A STRATEGY which could see owners of empty homes forced to sell-up to alleviate a local housing shortage has been approved by council chiefs, but local Conservatives branded it 'disappointing'.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s ruling cabinet rubber-stamped the new plan aimed at bringing 1,000 empty properties back into use.

According to the council, there are 6,500 people on the housing register but 4,302 empty properties, of which 1,406 have been empty for more than six months and are classed as ‘long term empty’.

The authority’s previous housing strategy launched in 2016 has so far brought 965 properties back into use – 65 above its original target. The new one will  now run until 2027 and will include a package of measures divided into three sets of options – enablement, inducement and enforcement.

These include measures ranging from offering technical advice about repairs, providing grants for improvements, or even enforcing sales.

But Cllr Lynn Gibbon, deputy leader of Cheshire West's Conservative group, claimed the updated strategy was virtually identical to the original.

She said: “Why is the strategy exactly the same as the last one? The offer, the words, the options are all the same, why? When the overall number of empty homes remains the same as five years ago, we’re treading water."

She added: “Overall, this strategy is disappointing. It lacks new thoughts or initiatives to reduce the overall trend of 4,300 empty homes after five years.

"You would be forgiven for thinking it was the same as the previous one.”

But Cllr Matt Bryan, cabinet member for housing, planning & climate emergency – who has overseen the strategy – hit back.

He told the meeting: “This strategy has delivered exactly what it was set out to do when it was implemented in 2016. If it’s not broken - don’t fix it.”

He added: “Everything can be improved - which we have done with the ambition of the houses that we’ve brought back in. We’ve got a strong team behind it who know exactly what they’re doing, hence the results.”

Cllr Carol Gahan, cabinet member for finance and legal, said: “Our communities really need these properties to be homes once again.

"For all those people who currently live near a derelict property that’s become an eyesore because it’s been left to deteriorate over the years. I think it’s going to add to our housing stock eventually in the borough.”