Hundreds of GLA properties standing empty

12.00.00am GMT Wed 20th Nov 2002

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats have discovered that more than 200 residential properties owned by the GLA are standing empty instead of providing accommodation to help tackle the capital's housing crisis.

The Mayor admitted to Assembly member Mike Tuffrey at today's Assembly meeting that 204 properties, in various states of repair, are waiting to be sold off or returned to residential use.

"While I welcome the news that the Mayor is now monitoring how many empty properties the GLA owns he must ensure that they are brought back into use to provide much-needed roofs over people's heads or sold off. Instead, they are falling into states of disrepair while GLA projects wait to be given the go-ahead," said Mr Tuffrey, Lib Dem housing spokesperson.

"For example, Transport for London has 52 empty residential units many of which relate to the plans to widen the North Circular road at Bounds Green, plans which were abandoned earlier this year. It would appear little has been done since to either dispose of the properties or bring them back into use."

"I am concerned that TfL, the Met and LFEPA will overlook the housing potential of these empty units while they concentrate on their core transport, policing and fire issues. The Mayor's job is to give the leadership necessary to tackle regional issues, such as the housing crisis. He must direct them to consider the housing potential of these units or, if they are beyond repair, to sell them off promptly."