To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) empty local authority homes, (b) empty private homes, (c) empty Government homes, (d) empty flats above shops, (e) vacant offices suitable for conversion into homes and (f) other non-residential premises suitable for conversion into homes there are in each region in England. [32223]
Estimates of the numbers of vacant dwellings in England on 1 April in 1997, the latest date for which figures are available, are as set out. No data are held centrally on empty flats over shops, nor on vacant offices or other non-residential premises suitable for conversion into homes.
| Vacant dwellings | |
| Local authority1 | 81,200 |
| Registered Social Landlords2 | 26,800 |
| Other public sector3 | 19,000 |
| Of which government departments | 16,000 |
| Private sector1 | 640,000 |
| Total | 767,000 |
| Sources: | |
| 1 HIP 1 returns from local authorities. | |
| 2 Housing Corporation HAR 10/1 returns from housing associations and other Registered Social Landlords housing associations. | |
| 3 Government Departments and HIP1 returns from local authorities. | |
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money his Department has allocated in the current financial year to fill (a) empty local authority homes, (b) empty private homes, (c) empty Government homes, (d) empty flats above shops, (e) vacant offices suitable for conversion into homes and (f) other non-residential premises suitable for conversion into homes in each region in England. [32224]
The resources my Department makes available to local authorities for housing purposes are generally not hypothecated for expenditure on particular policies. It is for local authorities to determine their own priorities in targeting the resources available to make the best use of the housing stock in their areas. To assist local authorities and increase investment in housing, we have made additional resources available through the Capital Receipts Initiative for housing and housing related regeneration.My Department has provided a grant of £102,000 to the Empty Homes Agency for the period 1995/96–1997/98 to work with local authorities to develop and implement empty property strategies. By April 1998, we expect some 200 authorities to have strategies in place. Subject to Parliamentary approval of my Department's estimates, we have agreed to provide a further three-year grant to the Agency to work with authorities to bring more redundant commercial property into residential use and to make better use of empty properties in rural areas. We are also considering how economic instruments could be developed to help meet sustainable development objectives, including maximising use of existing buildings.