Davey pushes for end to scandal of empty homes

10.2.03

Local MP demands more affordable housing for Kingston and Surbiton

Last week Edward Davey MP called for an end to the scandal of empty homes across the country. In response to many of his own constituent's complaints about the high number of empty homes in Kingston and Surbiton, he called on the government to focus on bringing empty houses back into use rather than relying on new developments on greenfield sites.

Edward Davey commented

"Affordable housing is a real issue in Kingston and Surbiton. Many of my constituents have expressed their frustration at the number of properties standing empty in the borough and are quite rightly demanding that something be done.

"Affordable housing is desperately needed, but there are more empty homes than homeless people in every region of the country including London. The Government must take action to end this scandal of empty houses.

"Britain presently needs 80,000 new homes a year to meet the requirements for affordable housing. This Government has overseen the lowest level of house building since 1924. With 100,000 empty homes in Greater London alone, making use of existing empty properties is the quickest, cheapest and most environmentally sustainable solution.