2014 Government data on empty properties suggests that there are about 610,000 empty homes in England. The Government data is derived from individual local authority council tax base data which is a snapshot of the position in October 2014. They are the most accurate figures available but by no means complete.
The latest Government data also records over 200,000 long-term empty homes (that is homes empty over six months).
Given the rapid and continued growth of the UK population from immigration and high birth rates housing pressures have further risen. This is worsened by generally low levels of new house builds and a relatively poor overall housing stock. The planning regime is also difficult and made more so by the fact we are a geographically small land mass with lots of people and lots of issues as a result.
But as the about facts show, before concreting over what's left of our green fields with millions more new build houses of dubious quality why don't we try bringing back into use hundreds of thousands of abandoned buildings.
Some local authorities are trying to do this and are beginning to get some central government support. It still seems to be at a nascent stage though.
See the Empty Homes Agency website for more details.
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