Walsall Council threatens 26 empty property owners with compulsory purchase powers
Cabinet members at Walsall Council have agreed to target 26 empty homes across the borough where public safety concerns have been raised.
They include homes which have fallen into disrepair with overgrowing weeds.
Council officers, especially those in community protection, continue to receive a large number of enquiries about the blight of empty properties to residents and communities.
The authority said that using compulsory purchase powers is the ‘only realistic prospect’ of bringing the properties back into use.
As of last year, there were 105 properties across the borough which have been empty for more than five years. The figure has decreased from 119 in 2020.
Since April 2019 landlords of properties that are unoccupied and unfurnished have faced additional council tax premiums.
Properties empty for more than two years pay double the normal rate, those empty for five years have to pay triple, and properties empty for 10 years or more have to pay quadruple.
The full list of empty properties set to be targeted by Walsall Council are:
60 Lord Street, Palfrey, Walsall, WS1 4DP
130 Parker Street, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 2LF
189 Stafford Street, Walsall, WS2 8ED
43 Temple Road, Willenhall, WV13 1ET
50 May Street, Leamore, Walsall, WS3 2AX
Flat 7 Bridge Street Chambers, 19 Bridge Street, Walsall, WS1 1DP
81 Park Hall Road, Walsall, WS5 3HS
First Floor Flat, Unit A, King Street, Walsall, WS1 4AG
6 Langmead Close, Briarsleigh Estate, Walsall, WS2 0NG
32 Barnetts Lane, Brownhills, Walsall, WS8 6HZ
4 Cheniston Road, Willenhall, WV12 5QR
6 Brewers Drive, Pelsall, Walsall, WS3 4DL
8 Bentley Lane, Walsall, WS2 8ST
177 Weston Street, Walsall, WS1 4EF
4 Thompson Street, Willenhall, WV13 1SY
131 Great Charles Street, Brownhills, Walsall, WS8 6AF
31 Stowe Street, Leamore, Walsall, WS3 2BX
128 Pargeter Street, Birchills, Walsall, WS2 8QS
66 George Street, Walsall, WS1 1RS
94 Wilkes Avenue, Bentley, Walsall, WS2 0JL
195a High Street, Brownhills, Walsall, WS8 6HE
89 Wood Lane, Willenhall, WV12 5NF
44 Eagleworks Drive, Walsall, WS3 1BF
66 Lichfield Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 3LY
41 Valley Road, Bloxwich, WS3 3EU
43 Valley Road, Bloxwich, WS3 3EU
Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader and portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “This is building on some success that the council has had over the years in terms of tackling empty dwellings.
“But we really must put some more effort and more strength behind this. It’s one of our ways of protecting the green belt as well as bringing these properties into economic use.
“We want to make sure more homes are available to meet the housing needs of our residents and tackle the associated issues these empty homes can cause for our residents and neighbourhoods.”
