It’s somewhat shocking to learn that in Bradford there are almost 14,000 homes lying empty and unused.

The figures from the Government highlight the way such empty homes – which become targets for vandals, crooks and vermin, as well as looking unsightly – blight local neighbourhoods.

Not only that, they make something of a nonsense of the constant threat to the green belt presented by developers hungry to build on the fields around the district.

There is an ongoing battle between communities and builders over proposals to site new developments on green field sites.

But this new report shows that there are perfectly good homes literally going to waste across the district.

The Government scheme on the back of this announcement aims to bring these homes back into use – with the help of local people.

Residents who help councils track down the owners of houses and encourage them to bring the homes into use again will get match-funding equal to the council tax raised from a freshly-registered home to spend in their communities.

It’s a novel incentive and could have positive effects. If enough of the 14,000 dormant homes in Bradford are brought back into use, it might also ease the district’s housing pressures and lighten the load of applications to develop our green fields.