BRADFORD Council has stated it is continuing to try and reduce the number of long-term empty properties in the district, though it says compulsory purchase is very much a last resort.

A meeting of the regeneration and economy overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday was told that as of January this year there were 4,262 properties which had been empty for more than six months.

Of these 1,246 had been empty for between one and two years; 17 between two and three years; 480 between three and five years; 576 between five and 10 years and 296 over 10 years.

The committee was told that of these, around 180 properties deemed acceptable for accommodation were situated in the city centre and were flats above pubs, shops and other venues which the owners or managers preferred to remain empty, possibly because they were used for storage.

However, the owners continued to pay the higher 150 per cent council tax levy on these because of their long-term lack of occupancy.

Councillor Riaz Ahmed, (Lib Dem, Bradford Moor) said: “These figures worry me. We have 576 properties empty for five to 10 years. Why is it such a high number and what are we doing about it?

“We have young people in the city who are having to move out to get jobs. This then has an effect on housing.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, portfolio holder for regeneration, housing, planning and transport, said: “Bringing more jobs to the city centre through the development of City Park is one way. If there are quality jobs there, people will want to live in the city centre.”

Housing officer Dave North told members: “It is not against the law to have empty properties but we can only do so much as far as forcing people to have them occupied.

“If they are not causing any problems to anyone then we will offer them as much help as we can.”

A report stated that since 2010, 20 properties had been compulsory purchased and 30 properties had been voluntarily acquired.

There were 26 cases currently ongoing of which 21 are compulsory purchase orders and five voluntary acquisition.

It continued: “The empty homes and loans team continues to work with other organisations such as Bradford Youthbuild Trust, Centrepoint, ARISE and other smaller charities to provide the opportunity to purchase empty properties and bring them back into use as rented accommodation for young and vulnerable people in addition to providing support to those young people.

“The team is often approached by developers who are looking to find empty properties to bring them back into use.

“Officers will often pass the details to empty homes owners.”

The committee welcomed the report and asked for an update in 12 months’ time.