NEW research into empty homes has revealed that 19 in every 1,000 homes in Bradford has been laying empty for at least six months - the highest proportion in the region.

In addition by combining the figures with average house prices for the district, the researchers have revealed that the value of those empty homes is more than £175 million - again the top in Yorkshire.

According to insurer Admiral, Bradford not only has the highest number of empty homes in the region at 4,090, but it also has the highest number of homes sat empty for more than 10 years in Yorkshire, at 202.

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The firm has combined Government figures with information obtained from local authorities under freedom of information rules, all relating to 2018.

Its research shows that while in Bradford 19 in every 1,000 homes has been empty for at least six months, it is 18 in Richmondshire, 16 in Calderdale, 15.2 in Craven and 14 in Scarborough.

As for the highest number of empty homes in Yorkshire, while Bradford tops the list with 4,090 homes, Leeds has 2,788, Sheffield 2,433, Kirklees 2,144 and Doncaster has 1,683.

While there were 202 homes empty in Bradford for more than ten years, in Sheffield this figure was 179, East Riding of Yorkshire had 113, Calderdale 105, and Barnsley 61.

Using the median house price for each district, alongside the earlier figures, researchers estimated where longer-term vacancies are collectively worth the most money.

Bradford, Sheffield, East Riding or Yorkshire, and Calderdale were among those that topped the list.

While Bradford's homes, empty for two or more years, totalled an estimated £175 million, £114m of those had lain empty for between two and four years, making it top of that list.

However, Sheffield, at £38.5m and £26.9m, was top for the value of empty homes for 5 to 9 years, and ten years plus. Bradford came second in both these lists at £34.3m and £26.7m respectively.

Earlier this year the Telegraph & Argus reported that Bradford Council had brought 20 properties in the district back into use as it tries to cut the number of empty homes.

As part of its Empty Homes Action Plan it had issued several compulsory purchase orders to try and recover houses which had become dilapidated. This included an order for the acquisition of 28 Cunliffe Road in Manningham.

The Council’s efforts to bring some of them back into use have been boosted by rises in Council Tax on empty properties.

At the time a spokesperson added: “The Council is continuing in its action plan to bring empty properties back into use and will be refreshing the plan this year as its current lifespan is 2017-2019.

“Since the beginning of 2019 the Empty Homes Team has brought, directly, 20 problematic properties back into use.

“Changes that were introduced on the 1st April 2019 to increase he Council Tax charged for empty properties that have been empty for longer than two years, have resulted in many more enquiries being received by the team from empty properties owners looking for help and advice on how to bring their properties back into use.”

More information on the figures is available here.

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