Dorset Council has successfully completed its first Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for a long-term, empty, and abandoned home in Bridport.
This is the culmination of over 5 years of work, communicating and negotiating with the legal owner to get the property back into use. Where all efforts fail, Dorset Council uses its powers, such as CPO, to take ownership. This is always viewed as a last resort.
This action forms part of the Council’s developing Empty Homes Strategy. The council recognises that empty homes are a wasted housing resource and blight local communities, attracting rubbish, pests, and crime.
The new strategy aims to use the Council’s full influence and legal powers to get empty homes back into beneficial use for the wider benefit of all.
Councillor Gill Taylor, Cabinet Portfolio lead for Housing at Dorset Council, said: “Our work on empty homes “just makes sense. “Getting empty homes back into use won’t solve our housing crisis, but while we are in desperate need of homes, we can’t just stand by and leave these houses to rot. CPO is a last resort for us; however, this action in Bridport demonstrates that Dorset Council will not shy away from legal action when it’s the right course of action.”
Dorset Council will be working with stakeholders in Bridport to work out the best options for the reuse of the property. The council has an active caseload of empty homes investigations and enforcement with more legal action in the pipeline.
