Council reclaims Bridport property after 5 years using CPO as a last resort to combat the housing crisis.
The council said they use CPO as a last resort, meaning Compulsory Purchase Order, considering it only when other options fail. Councillor Gill Taylor talked about empty homes, saying fixing them makes sense now.
Getting homes back won’t solve the housing crisis, but they can’t let homes rot when housing is needed. The CPO shows Dorset Council will take legal action if it’s the right thing to do.
They acted as part of their Empty Homes Strategy. Empty homes waste resources and hurt communities, attracting trash, problems with pests, and even crime. The strategy uses Dorset Council’s power to get homes back into use for everyone.
They will work with people in Bridport to find the best way of using the property. The council investigates empty homes and enforces rules, and more legal action is coming in the future.
Bridport faces a major housing crisis, an issue that has been a hot topic in the town, where many struggle to find proper housing. Rental properties are scarce, and social housing is also very limited.
The town council made it a high priority in their five-year plan. Councillors want to work proactively with groups like developers, housing associations, and charities.
Their goal is to reduce the housing register and create affordable housing on available land, with social rent housing as the top priority there.