August 2018
Although there is a mechanism to deal with the owners of derelict and empty buildings (DEB) backed by legal force where necessary, the whole procedure is lengthy and time-consuming and quick results are rarely achievable.   One of the greatest problems is tracing the person(s) responsible for the properties.

The council has set up a dedicated team, the Derelict Land and Buildings Group, to deal with DEBs.   This is made up of the regeneration, planning and planning enforcement departments, conservation and Community Safety Neighbourhood and Nuisance officers.   Cases are referred to Building Control where necessary.   At any one time the group is dealing with twelve buildings across the borough ­work is NOT confined to King¹s Lynn.

One of The ‘big sticks’ which can be invoked is a compulsory order.   Briefly, a local authority (LA) has the power to compulsorily purchase an empty/derelict property which is having a deleterious effect on its location.   This will be for a price, which will have been assessed by the District Valuer.
This may not ­probably will not be of a value, which the owner will accept, which in turn to leads to delays while negotiation and legal action takes place.   Where owners cannot be traced the LA has the power to acquire the property anyway.

Once purchased the LA can then sell the property on to a third party for restoration and/or development.   As LAs do not have the funds for such work, and in any event are reluctant to add them to their responsibilities and costs, before making a CPO they need to have an agreement set up with the third party so that the property can be sold on immediately.

Candidates for action are brought to the team’s attention through a variety of ways: reports by council officers, the owners/occupiers of neighbouring properties, concerned organisations representing the community such as parish councils, the Civic Society (and now the ward forum), builders and developers who have identified a building which they wish to acquire.

At the present time there are in excess of 80 properties, residential and commercial on the DLB case list.   These are prioritised so the group will have 12 priority properties for action.

Initially, where possible, owners are contacted and alerted to the need for attention.   If nothing is done, negotiations take place with a warning of enforcement action, which may ultimately result in a CPO.   If no action is taken by the owner enforcement action commences, which may result in a CPO ­ so long as an end user can be found and a sale agreement is in place.

The borough took such action with a house at East Rudham, and this has been a great success.   Sometimes the potential of a CPO is sufficient to get owners to take action themselves, and this has been the case with two town centre properties in Lynn.   Several of the properties we reported to them are already on the list.

The Derelict Land and Buildings Group is always interested to hear of further candidates for inclusion and welcomes reports from the public.   Contact Laura ­ preferably by email ­ email hidden; JavaScript is required or on 01553-616891

Ostap Paparega has agreed to maintain regular contact to update the forum on developments and to report on achievements; in turn the WF is looking forward to participating in planning the future of the area and assisting the borough wherever it can.   We offered to help in any forthcoming consultation process by contacting residents through the WF mailing list.

The ward forum wishes to be kept informed of buildings in the ward, which have an adverse effect upon their surroundings and neighbouring buildings.   Please inform the secretary of any candidates.