Friends of the Earth highlights Empty Homes scandal

On Saturday, the 24th April, Exeter Friends of the Earth will be protesting at an empty building which should be used for housing. Friends of the Earth members will have banners saying "Re-use Empty Buildings for New Homes! "and " Devon Opposes New Towns " to highlight the fact that two New Towns are being proposed for Devon whilst empty buildings in urban areas remain unused.

Photocall 11.30 am - 24th April 1999 The Old Eye Infirmary, Magdalen Street, Exeter Campaigners from Exeter FoE will be marking Empty Homes Week by protesting at an empty building.

Exeter Friends of the Earth have also carried out research into the high level of empty homes in Devon which they describe as a scandal. The 1991 census reveals that there are almost 39,000 empty homes in Devon. This is equivalent to the total number of dwellings in Exeter. FoE describes this as scandalous. But it is projected to be even worse - the number of empty homes will rise to 45,000 by the year 2011 according to the recently agreed Devon Structure Plan. However, the level of empty homes varies considerably between districts. As follows:

District	Empty Homes (*) (1991 census)	% empty homes	1 Vacant Homes	2 Second Homes	3 Holiday Accomodation
East Devon	5024	9.27 %	2726	1172	1126
Exeter	2177	5.06 %	1535	128	514
Mid Devon	1707	6.31 %	1301	214	192
North Devon	3443	9.25 %	1690	561	1192
Plymouth	7048	6.76 %	5840	355	853
South Hams	5614	15.15 %	1712	2156	1746
Teignbridge	4030	8.36 %	2398	799	833
Torbay	5973	10.57 %	3422	916	1635
Torridge	2173	9.47 %	1113	426	634
West Devon	1655	8.44 %	1146	266	243
TOTALS	38844		22883	6993	8968

Exeter City Council has maintained a vigorous and successful empty homes policy and as such have maintained a level of empty homes that other districts in Devon should follow.

The Empty Homes figure is made up of three categories (1) Vacant Homes, (2) Second Homes and (3) Holiday Homes.

Looking just at the Vacant Homes element Friends of the Earth has calculated that if all Devon’s districts achieved the same level of empty homes as Exeter then the number of vacant homes can be reduced by over 6,800 homes - almost equivalent to the two New Towns proposed for Devon (7,500 homes):

District	Vacant Homes (1991 census)	% Vacant Homes	Vacant Homes if all districts at 3.57% (i.e. as Exeter)	Reduction if 3.57% Vacant Homes	Vacant Homes if all districts at 3% (i.e. as Select Committee rec.)	Reduction if 3% Vacant Homes
East Devon	2726	5.03 %	1936	790	1626	1100
Exeter	1535	3.57 %	1535	0	1289	246
Mid Devon	1301	4.81 %	966	335	811	490
North Devon	1690	4.54 %	1330	360	1117	573
Plymouth	5840	5.60 %	3726	2114	3130	2710
South Hams	1712	4.62 %	1324	388	1112	600
Teignbridge	2398	4.98 %	1721	677	1445	953
Torbay	3422	6.05 %	2019	1403	1696	1726
Torridge	1113	4.85 %	820	293	689	424
West Devon	1146	5.84 %	700	446	588	558
TOTALS	22883	av. 5.08 %	16075	6808	13504	9379

The House of Commons Select Committee on Housing, however, has suggested that the vacant homes target should be set at 3.0%. If all districts in Devon achieved this figure by the end of the Structure Plan period (2011) then the reduction in vacant homes would be almost 9,400 homes - more that the two New Towns put together.

Maurice Spurway, Exeter FoE’s co-ordinator said:

Pictures:
We held up banners in front of the Old Eye Infirmary in Magdalen Street (empty - but eminently suitable for housing), and then marched up and down the High St with our banners.
Click here for pictures