Would-be MP calls for "common sense" on Chiltern District Council building plan (From This Is Local London)

Would-be MP calls for "common sense" on Chiltern District Council building plan

11:52am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(2)

A PARLIAMENTARY candidate has called for a council to fill already-empty houses before building new ones.

Lib Dem Tim Starkey has called for Chiltern District Council to show “common sense” and fill the 952 empty homes in the area, instead of building 2,900 new dwellings.

Last week the council started a public consultation to get residents' views on the plans, which will form its 'Core Strategy' on housing.

But Mr Starkey, who will be standing for election in the Amersham and Chesham constituency, said: “It is a scandal that at the same time as there is pressure to build more houses, there are over 84,000 empty homes across the South East, including 952 in the Chiltern District alone.

“Surely, it is a matter of common sense to try and fill these houses before building new ones.

“The challenge for both local and national government is to provide incentives to the owners of these properties to renovate them and rent them out. This could include grants to help restore the property for use as social housing, or loans to help make the property available to the private sector.

“It is far more environmentally friendly to renovate than to build new houses. Chiltern District Council has not made nearly enough progress on this issue with virtually no reduction in the number of empty homes in recent years.”

He added: “I would like to see regional targets abolished and councils given the freedom to decide what their housing needs are locally.”

Cllr Nick Rose, the council's cabinet member for planning, said: “The number of sites needed for our Draft Core Strategy are determined by the Government's requirements of the South East Plan which refers to new build. Obviously we would like to see as many empty houses as possible made available but this would not reduce the targets imposed in the South East Plan.”

He added 120 empty properties were filled last year.

Cllr Rose said: “The council has a range of loans and grants to repair properties, access to energy efficiency grants which could be up to £3,000 per house, and a waiting list of tenants who would like to find a home.

“Should you have an empty property that you wish to return to use, please contact the Housing Team on 01494 586524 for advice and assistance.”

Meanwhile, around 100 residents attended a meeting in Chesham on Monday night to discuss plans for 650 new homes in the town.

Mayor Justine Fulford, who chaired the meeting, said it was “positive”.

She said: “We were able to explain the process very clearly. It was to help people to respond in a way that would achieve what they wanted.

“We all felt quite positive and felt we had empowered the public to address their concerns.”