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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published:5 December 2008

Empty homes plummet

THE number of long-term empty homes – those vacant for longer than six months – has fallen from 699 in 2005 to 164 in Islington, it was revealed this week.
A Town Hall team has toured empty properties by hired red-top bus to see how they are being brought back into use.
They visited two derelict houses in Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, which Islington Council is considering making the subject of a compulsory purchase order (CPO).
The tour also took in two mid-terrace, four-storey homes in Campdale Road, Holloway, which were empty for more than 17 years but, following council action, were turned into flats, with shop space which a café has expanding into.
A four-storey Victorian home in Claremont Square, Angel, lay empty for several years before being converted into five homes with the help of a council-awarded empty property grant to Star Estates.
Lib Dem environment chief Councillor Greg Foxsmith said: “Empty homes are eyesores, and a waste of housing which Islington badly needs.
“That’s why our work to bring empty properties back into useful homes is so vital.
“We can’t rush out and put CPOs on every empty home, and we’d rather work with owners where possible, but we’re not afraid to go to court.”

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