Great Yarmouth Borough Council is using its Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers on eight properties in the SHARP area of the seafront to bring redundant buildings back into use as quality homes for sale or rent.

The CPOs in the Secondary Holiday Area Regeneration Project (SHARP) will, in the main, see former hotels bought by the Council and sold on if owners are not prepared to renovate them.

“We have a good record with CPOs,” explained Head of Central Services Chris Skinner. “In 2002 two large properties in Nelson Road South were turned into much needed homes for families requiring four or five bedrooms.

“Since then three other CPOs have seen:- one owner transform the property themselves; another building in Southtown Road, which was a real eyesore, converted to nine flats by a new owner; and a third in York Road is about to be put on the market.

“The latest buildings have come under the CPO banner as they are in the SHARP area, which is having more than £4 million invested to help regenerate that part of the town.”

The properties are in Paget, Wellesley and Sandown Roads.

“A shift in planning policy last year has allowed us to begin the moves to convert empty former hotels into quality residential accommodation,” said SHARP Project Manager William Wong.

“Compulsory purchase is a last resort, we would rather work with owners and offer grant assistance if necessary to make the development viable. But as work is beginning to progress in the SHARP area we can’t let it be ruined by boarded up buildings.

“Before these properties are taken over by the Council and sold on, the owners do have the opportunity to negotiate and demonstrate how they will convert the building to provide a decent standard of housing.

“In a recent survey the eyesore created by boarded up buildings was put by local residents and business owners as the top priority for SHARP to tackle.

“The Compulsory Purchase Orders will provide an extra tool to ensure action is taken by the owners within a reasonable time-scale.”

“Through the SHARP project the Council is working to bring properties back into sustainable use to provide quality flats for sale or rent,” said Councillor Bob Peck portfolio holder for Community.

“The aim is that by improving the quality of accommodation and the external appearance of the area it will attract higher income residents to the town to work in the many exciting projects which will be happening over the next few years.”

For further information on Compulsory Purchase Orders call Head of Central Services Chris Skinner on 01493 846314 or Enabling Officer Tracey Slater on 01493 846268. For information on SHARP call Project Manager William Wong on 01493 844282 or Head of Community Services Mark Burns on 01493 846450.