I propose to take Questions Nos. 508, 532 and 558 together.
Housing for All commits to a range of measures to address vacancy and maximise the use of existing housing stock such as plans to introduce a new programme for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of vacant properties to ensure their use for residential purposes. Such a new programme for CPO of vacant properties is expected to support a broader programme of affordable housing in order to maximise opportunities to return vacant properties to productive use.
The CPO programme is to be supported by a bridging finance facility from the Housing Finance Agency for property acquisitions. In addition, a central advisory service is to be established in The Housing Agency to assist Local Authorities with the process. The objective is for Local Authorities to acquire at least 2,500 vacant units by 2026 and present them to the market for sale. This advisory support, will be in addition to the Vacant Homes unit being established within my Department, with the Principal Officer already appointed, to co-ordinate the range of measures under the Housing for All pathway to addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock.
The detailed arrangements for this CPO programme are currently being developed, with aim of advancing it this year, and will include any synergies with other measures also being considered. It will build on the experience of many Local Authorities that already utilise CPO acquisitions in their delivery of new social homes through the Buy and Renew scheme. As part of this process, my Department is meeting with Vacant Homes Officers later this month, and this will enable targets to be set for 2022 and 2023.
My Department does not have a scheme that specifically funds CPOs by local authorities and therefore such data is not collated by my Department but may be available directly from the local authorities, but CPO may have been used by authorities as part of their programmes, particularly Buy and Renew.