Empty Homes and Low-demand Pathfinders: Eighth Report of Session 2004-05. Vol. 1: Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence - House of Commons Papers 2004-05 295-I (Paperback)

The Committees 2002 report on empty homes highlighted the problems in parts of the Midlands and North where the housing market had collapsed. Following the report the ODPM developed the Housing Market Renewal Initiative with nine Pathfinder programmes to implement projects for refurbishment, demolition and redevelopment. The Committee is however concerned that the Government does not have clear objectives for the programme and although it recognises that tackling the problem could take up to 15 years, it has made no long term commitment to the pathfinder initiatives. In addition the Pathfinders only include 50 percent of the areas with serious problems of low demand and the other areas are not receiving any additional support.