MORE and more homes are standing empty in the North-East, a new report has revealed.

The ‘Home Truths’ report, published by the National Housing Federation (NHF), said the last four years had seen a three per cent increase in empty homes, bucking the previous trend of falling numbers.

There were about 16,000 empty homes in the region, about eight per cent of England’s overall total.

The report said that while the North-East wasn't suffering a housing shortage like some other areas of the country, much of the housing stock that was available wasn’t suitable, ending up being abandoned or empty.

This could be because it was in need of renovation, or located in areas of economic decline with few jobs available in the surrounding area.

The NHF said empty homes had a “devastating impact” on local economies and were “destroying home ownership dreams”.

Monica Burns, the National Housing Federation’s external affairs manager for the North-East, said: “Building homes not only creates jobs, but also supports jobs in housing associations once they are built and adds money to the local economy from residents’ spending.

“We now need the backing of key local partners to help us build in the right places, free up land and help us deliver the types of affordable housing needed most. With this support we can not only ramp up supply, but also begin vital regeneration projects, enhance infrastructure and bring empty homes back into use.”

Councillor Bob Cook, Tees Valley Combined Authority’s cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said: “The Combined Authority is currently working collaboratively with the community-led housing sector.

“We are aiming to transform pockets of poor-quality housing, including bringing empty homes back into productive use.

“Alongside transforming existing communities, building the right type of homes in the right areas at the right time is vital to our growth.

“In recent months we have worked with local authorities to cement £12.8m in Government funding for infrastructure to unlock 3,350 new houses. We are currently awaiting decisions on further housing infrastructure funding.”

A spokeswoman for Thirteen, which manages 34,000 homes, the bulk of which are in the Tees Valley, said: “At the moment we’re working on 40 development sites, either starting on site or handing over finished homes for our sales and letting teams to manage.

“Thirteen, in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and North Ormesby Community Land Trust, is also delivering a £1m ‘Empty Homes’ project, to unlock the potential of empty homes.”

“We believe that we are much more than a landlord and we also work with our partners to breathe life into our communities, through housing and the many projects we manage which help create training, skills and employment opportunities.”