West Kent Councils Unite In Fight Against Empty Property

A pioneering initiative which is helping to bring empty properties back into use in East Kent is being rolled out to tackle the problem in the West of the county. Today Kent County Council has teamed up with Tunbridge Wells…

A pioneering initiative which is helping to bring empty properties back into use in East Kent is being rolled out to tackle the problem in the West of the county.

Today Kent County Council has teamed up with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to launch a West Kent branch of the No Use Empty; the Kent Empty Property Initiative.

The initiative was first launched almost two years ago as a partnership between Kent County Council and the District Councils of Dover, Shepway, Swale and Thanet as a direct, proactive response to the recurring problem of empty housing in East Kent. The long-term aim is to roll out the initiative Kent-wide to embrace all local councils.

There are currently around long term 6,000 empty properties across Kent, depriving people of a much needed home. The objective of the initiative is to raise awareness of the issue of empty housing and the problems it causes to local communities, and to help bring them back into use.

No Use Empty will support the existing work carried out by the three local councils to tackle the problem, giving housing officers access to a wider group of resources, skills and experiences and engaging in a joined-up approach with Kent County Council and bordering districts to achieve improved results in returning properties back to use.

The initiative has been widely praised across the UK as a unique partnership between County and local councils, achieving tangible results by delivering a joined-up approach. In East Kent, over 300 properties have been brought back into use since the launch of the initiative, with dozens more properties in the pipeline.

Roger Gough, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at Kent County Council, said: “It was always our intention to roll out the initiative across Kent and I’m delighted we’ve taken this significant step forward in engaging the support of the local councils in West Kent.

“We have already proved that the initiative is an effective and efficient approach to tackling empty housing in East Kent, and with the support of our new members I’m sure the initiative will make an equal impact in West Kent. The long term goal is for the initiative to embrace the whole of Kent and we look forward to welcoming new partners from across the county very soon”.

The three new councils were welcomed to the initiative at an event hosted by Kent County Council at East Malling Conference Centre. Attended by local councillors, housing officers, and community groups, the event provided a platform from which to launch the event to West Kent, while giving a cross section of people the opportunity to talk to the No Use Empty team and discuss how the campaign can make a difference.

Councillor Catherine Mayhew from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said: ‘We are delighted to be teaming up with Kent County Council to pool resources and knowledge among the districts of West Kent to help boost the fight against derelict housing in our region. The No Use Empty initiative has had a great impact in helping bring empty properties back into use in neighbouring East Kent and we are confident that it will be equally successful in our area.’

Cllr Jill Anderson, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, says: “We are delighted to be joining the No Use Empty campaign and look forward to working with Kent County Council and our neighbouring districts to reduce the number of empty homes in West Kent. Many property owners know that they are missing out on potential income by leaving their properties empty at a time when many people desperately need good homes but they don’t have the time, experience or resources to bring them back into use. No Use Empty will help change all that by offering free and impartial help and advice on what to do including possible grant funding and opportunities for lettings and leasings.”

For further information on the No Use Empty campaign, visit: www.no-use-empty.org or telephone the campaign hotline on 08458 247605.