The number of long-term empty homes in the Bradford district is falling but still stands in excess of 6,000 at a time when Council chiefs are deciding where to build 45,500 new homes.

In April last year Bradford Council pledged to tackle the blight by cancelling the 50 per cent discount on council tax.

The additional income – an estimated £3.3 million – would then be used to support action on empty homes, spread over a three-year period.

The funding is already being used to increase enforcement activity, but also to develop new ways of supporting empty-homes owners to bring properties back into use themselves.

Officers have been working with other sections including the revenues and benefits service and asset management service, as well as social landlord Incommunities.

Read more on this story in Monday's T&A