Council to begin compulsory purchase of four empty homes for housing associations

Published: 6th of October, 2022

Glasgow City Council today (6 October) approved the beginning of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) for three flats and a mid-terrace house in three different areas in the city which have been long-term empty homes, which would then be transferred to housing associations for use as affordable housing.

The homes - at 73 Rylees Crescent, Penilee (vacant since 2006), Flat 2/2, 4 Melville Street, Pollokshields, Flat 0/2, 35 Westmoreland Street, Govanhill and Flat 0/4, 94 Allison Street, Govanhill - would go on the completion of these orders to the Wheatley Group (Rylees Crescent), Southside Housing Association (Melville Street and Allison Street), and Govanhill Housing Association (Westmoreland Street).

The CPOs would lead to an increase in affordable housing supply, remove neighbourhood blight, and will ensure the future maintenance of these properties. Restoring such homes to productive use is a key part of Glasgow City Council's Empty Homes Strategy: www.glasgow.gov.uk/emptyhomes.

Funding for the four acquisitions will be made available to the housing associations through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) budget, and the owners of the properties identified for CPO will continue to be given the opportunity to sell the property to the housing association on a voluntary basis prior to confirmation of the compulsory purchase order.

The owners will be entitled to seek compensation for the loss of their property from the date of confirmation, in accordance with statutory provisions.

Councillor Kenny McLean, Convener for Housing at Glasgow City Council, said: "The transfer of these empty homes would allow them to be brought back to productive use, add to the availability of much-needed affordable housing in the city, improve the quality of the properties, prevent anti-social behaviour and stop the blight of their local communities that they have created."