THIS autumn a young family moved into a new home on a Bradford street.

Nothing unusual about that, but, only a few months before, the house had been branded a blight on the community. In a poor state of repair, the property was a magnet for anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, and generated a stream of complaints from local residents.

Settling in well, the family is delighted, and the once dilapidated property is unrecognisable, with a smart frontage and neat garden.

The house is one of a number of run-down dwellings in the same terrace in Wellington Street, Laisterdyke, which have been renovated and brought back into use by Bradford Council working in partnership with a youth charity. They are being highlighted as success stories during National Empty Homes week, which runs until Sunday, aiming to inspire the reuse of vacant properties through example.

Empty over a long period, the owners had given up trying to let the houses due to previous tenants damaging the properties before moving out.

To prevent further deterioration of the street, the Council’s empty homes team and property law team acquired the homes and sold them to Bradford Youthbuild Trust (BYBT) - a charity which combines training young people in construction trades with providing renovated property to let at affordable rents.

One house was compulsorily purchased, the others bought in agreement with the owners.

Less than a year after the sale, the refurbishment is complete, the homes let and the area has its much-needed facelift.

“Over time, the anti-social behaviour in the street impacted upon other residents who, one by one, had left,” says David North, Bradford Council’s empty homes and loans manager. “We had worked with Youthbuild in the past and knew they were keen to find clusters of homes which are logistically easier to manage.”

Established in 2000, Bradford Youthbuild Trust aims to help disadvantaged young people reach their potential through training and employment in the construction industry. Over a number of years the trust has bought and refurbished 43 properties, 25 having been sold and the remainder rented out to local people at affordable rents.

Trainees from the ‘Get Bradford Working’ programme employed by Incommunities were seconded to the project to develop their employability, skills and experience.

“The training aspect is important to us,” says Will Jennings, chairman of Bradford Youthbuild Trust, who also works as a project manager for Incommunities. “To have a number of homes close together was ideal - with properties in isolation it is hard for our contractor to incorporate training. With clusters of properties there is more potential to incorporate training.

“The time scale of refurbishment, usually six months for a programme of this size, also allows for a good grounding in all areas - plumbing, bricklaying, electrics, and so on.”

Working with partner Bradford-based Cromwell Property Services as contractor, the project - which began on February this year and was completed in October - created three roles, one apprentice, an on-site and an office trainee. Two of those young people now have permanent jobs.

“The refurbishment provided training for unemployed local people and much-needed affordable homes,” says Will.

He adds: “It is such a transformation - local people now feel that the street is a place in which they want to live.”

Also involved in the renovations was R Wilson Project Management, serving as BYBT’s project manager.

Says David: “The project contributes to many key aspects of the Bradford district plan - decent homes, skills, jobs, safe and clean communities.

“If you live in an area which is seen as neglected, no-one wants to move in, so you cannot sell your home, and market values plummet. This is a classic case of regenerating a street and making it sustainable for the future.”

Bradford is making progress in its efforts to reduce the number of empty properties in the district. Last year there were 7791, including 4154 long-term empty homes - that had been unoccupied for more than six months. This year that figure has fallen to 7525, with 3944 long-term empty properties.

“There is a reduction of 210 long-term empty homes. Figures had begun to creep up in recent years so that is good news,” says David.

There are many reasons why homes remain empty for so long, including financial problems, marriage breakdown, mental illness and death. If neglected, their presence can blight a neighbourhood, attracting vandalism and other forms of anti-social behaviour.

Owners of empty properties often live elsewhere and are not aware of the impact upon the local community. It can be distressing for neighbours as it can become a magnet for anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and graffiti, and is also at risk of attracting squatters and other criminal activity.

Bradford Council is alerting people who own properties standing empty to seek help and advice. “We want them to recognise that the Council may be able to help them,” adds David.

Councillor Valerie Slater, deputy leader of Bradford Council says: "This is a great example of what can be achiev3ed through partnership working within the Council and outside agencies.

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