§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is undertaking to reduce the number of vacant housing units; and what plans he has to encourage the development of an empty property strategy through public-private partnerships. [49678]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe majority of empty properties are in private ownership. Our aim is to make better use of these as part of our strategy for planning for household growth in the future.
We will continue to encourage local authorities to develop empty property strategies in their areas, in partnership with local public and private agencies. About 200 authorities have strategies in place or under development. My Department is providing funding to the Empty Homes Agency to work with authorities to bring more empty commercial property back into housing use and to assist rural authorities in drawing up successful strategies.
We have made extra money available to local authorities for renovating and improving stock through the Capital Receipts Initiative. Capital funding is also available through the Housing Investment Programme, the Single Regeneration Budget and the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme.