New strategy aims to tackle empty houses in desirable borough

GREATER POWERS to tackle empty and unused properties in one of the most desirable places to live in Yorkshire have been approved.

Harrogate Borough Council said its Empty Homes Strategy was “another tool in the armoury” to tackle wasted housing resources in the area. The new strategy presents step-by-step guidelines that the council can undertake in regards to empty homes – ranging from encouraging property owners to fill the site, to enforcing compulsory acquisition orders and subsequent sale of properties.

Last year, a study by the National Housing Federation showed that average house prices in Harrogate are more than 11 times typical earnings.

A £75m luxury apartments redevelopment planned one of the town’s landmark buildings will seee former council offices turned into its ten to 14 apartments and two penthouses, at prices ranging from £2.5m to £10 million each,

Cabinet member for housing and safer communities, Coun Mike Chambers, said the policy details all of the options and processes open to the council regarding unused properties for the first time.

He added that the new policy was not intended to be used as a “weapon” by council, but was instead about ensuring that seemingly abandoned homes wouldn’t remain a drain on the community.

A 2016 report by the council stated that there were about 800 unused properties across the district.

Since 2017, the council has used voluntary and compulsory purchase orders on Hargrove Road, Harrogate and Heathfield Drive, and Knaresborough.