Decision details

Subject Matter

Purchase of a long-term empty property to provide affordable housing.

Reason for the Decision

To bring a long-term empty property back into use and create 5 units of temporary accommodation with on-site support.

Alternative Options considered and rejected

Take no action – without Council intervention it is very likely that the property will remain empty for the foreseeable future. The Council has a high demand for temporary accommodation in this area.

Purchase the property and ‘back to back’ private sale - The Council has a high demand for temporary accommodation and ‘West View’ represents an ideal opportunity to meet such demand.

Compulsory Purchase – the current owner has agreed to sell the property to the Council and therefore acquiring the property using Compulsory Purchase powers is not appropriate.

Empty Dwelling Management Order – this would require the Council to renovate the property, allocate tenants and manage the building for 7 years and then ‘hand it back’ to the current owner. As such this option does not offer long term value for money for the Council.

Consultees

Assets and Property

Housing Services

Spatial and Community Policy Service

Homes England

Sovereign Housing

Home Group

Budget Implications

It is estimated that the buildings ‘Existing Use Value – Social Housing’ is in the region of £250,000.

It is proposed that the unapproved capital pot 2020/21 ‘to bring a long-term empty property back into use’ is used to purchase the property, with renovation costs being funded from the 2021/22 unapproved capital pot, should no other funding sources be available at that time.

Renovation and improvement costs to make the property decent and safe are estimated to be in the region of £50-60,000 subject to detailed inspection.

Legal Implications – None

Any conflict of interest? – None

The Portfolio Holder for Housing delegates to the Corporate Director for Housing to take all necessary steps to purchase and renovate the property known as West View, 8, The Plocks, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7AA using the unapproved capital pot 2020/21 and 2021/22.