That the Petitioners support the campaign by Steve Swithin to regenerate the West End and the Petitioners understand that Lancaster City Council will receive £1.9 million to tackle clusters of empty homes in their area bringing 114 empty homes back into use.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urges the Department for Communities and Local Government to spend all of the mentioned £1.9 million on redevelopment for Morecambe’s West End.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.—[Presented by David Morris, Official Report, 03 December 2012; Vol. 554, c. 696.]
[P001143]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government:
On 29 May 2012, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government allocated £60 million of capital funding to tackle “clusters” of empty homes in areas of lower demand, but where there was good potential for homes to be occupied. Funding was allocated as un-ring-fenced grant to 20 local authorities, including £1,910,788 to Lancaster City Council. This funding will bring 3,600 homes back into use through an intensive street by street approach. Some of these will be at an affordable rent but there will also be mixed tenure schemes, reflecting the nature of local housing markets. The Government’s funding needed to be match funded with this coming from either public or private sector sources.
Lancaster City Council’s award was to bring up to 114 empty homes back as part of the wider improvement strategy for the Morecambe West End’s housing. The Cluster area focuses on the Central West End area and includes the whole of the Chatsworth Gardens site. Since receiving the Secretary of State’s approval of the project, Lancaster City Council have been considering the most positive and viable route to deliver the programme. A way forward has now been proposed and agreed by their Cabinet on 4 December 2012.