Blackburn with Darwen council seize two run-down homes in crackdown on empty properties

Blackburn with Darwen Council issued compulsory purchase orders (CPO) to obtain the properties, which are now back on the market for buyers who can demonstrate their ability to fully refurbish and reoccupy them as family homes.

17 Tewkesbury Street, Blackburn

One of the homes, located on Tewkesbury Street, has stood empty for more than 15 years and is severely water damaged due to years of neglect.

The other, on Ulverston Close, is boarded up and will only be sold to a buyer who can reoccupy within an agreed time period.

Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: "Empty properties attract vandalism, fly-tipping and other anti-social behaviour, having a negative impact on the surrounding community.

"It remains a major priority for us to tackle this and restore the properties so they are no longer a concern for the neighbourhood, but instead a positive feature.

"Even during the pandemic, the empty properties team have been working to solve this issue and helping to provide decent accommodation across the borough."

21 Ulverston Close, Blackburn

Issuing these CPO’s is the latest success for the empty properties team, who to date, have successfully acquired 23 properties by way of CPO, 17 of which have been fully refurbished and reoccupied.

For further information about the properties or if you would like to report a problematic empty property in your area, contact the empty properties team at emptyproperties@blackburn.gov.uk or 01254 585213.