Successful partnership initiative now set to be rolled out across the county
An initiative which aims to help bring empty properties in East Kent back into use has comfortably exceeded its delivery target.
Launched in 2005, No Use Empty: the Kent Empty Property Initiative is a partnership between Kent County Council and the four District Councils of Dover, Shepway, Swale and Thanet.
The initiative, created as a proactive response to the recurring problem of empty housing in East Kent, is supporting and complementing the work carried out by the individual District Councils to combat empty housing. New figures reveal that in the two years since the initiative was launched, 300 properties have been brought back into use across the four districts.
Following the success of the initiative in East Kent, the aim for Kent County Council now is for other Districts across the county to join the partnership, enabling it to tackle the issue of empty housing across Kent. Discussions are already being held with a number of Districts, and the initiative has already held a number of training workshops to which Empty Property Officers from all over Kent have attended.
Over the last year, the initiative has been busy providing free help and advice to owners of empty properties and raising awareness of the widespread problems caused to communities by empty housing. A website has also been launched – www.no-use-empty.org – which provides a one-stop information resource for anyone and everyone with an interest in empty housing.
Kent County Council has pledged a £5 million capital fund to support the initiative, which is funding a loan scheme for owners of empty properties, and an acquisition programme to allow the Council to purchase empty properties which causing particular problems and acting as a barrier for regeneration in local communities.
Quote from Susan Pledger or Roger Gough:
“These figures are extremely encouraging, and are testimony to the hard work of the Empty Property Officers across the four Districts. This is a truly pioneering scheme, the first of its kind in the country. Our partnership approach of pooling the skills, knowledge and resources of the County Council with the Districts has had a significant influence in recycling property; turning empty dilapidated houses into much needed new homes for local people.”
“We have proved the initiative is an effective and efficient approach to tackling empty housing in Kent and we are looking forward to expanding our work and welcoming new members to the partnership.”