1 Introduction
1. Our 2002 report on empty homes highlighted severe
problems in parts of the Midlands and North where the housing
market had collapsed with large numbers of homes standing empty.
Following our report, the ODPM developed the Housing Market Renewal
Initiative with nine Pathfinder programmes. These have now been
operating for two years. We therefore decided it was the right
time to consider the effectiveness of the programme that the Government
established.
2. We announced our inquiry on 16 December 2004.
The terms of reference were to consider:
- The scope and scale of the
initiatives proposed and underway in the Government's Housing
Market Renewal Pathfinder areas and other areas with problems
of empty homes
- The commitment and contribution of all Government
departments and other agencies to tackling the underlying causes
of empty homes
- The availability of resources outside the Pathfinder
areas and the development of strategies to deal with weak housing
markets
- The dissemination of good practice, innovation
and co-ordinated interventions within and outside Pathfinder areas
- Whether Councils have sufficient powers to tackle
the problem of empty homes in their areas
- The priority given to the demolition of homes
and the consideration given to effective methods of refurbishment
- The availability of the necessary skills and
training to support staff promoting projects to tackle the needs
of areas with weak housing markets
- How housing market renewal is addressed in other
strategies including local and regional plans and other regeneration
programmes
- How Pathfinders are seeking to involve the private
sector in their long term planning and programmes.
3. We received about 40 written submissions and held
two evidence sessions. We would like to thank our specialist adviser,
Ian Cole, Professor of Housing Studies at the Centre for Regional
Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University, for
his guidance and assistance, and all those organisations who made
written submissions or gave oral evidence to this inquiry.
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