The Empty Homes Agency is an
independent campaigning charity, which
exists to highlight the waste of empty
property in England and works with others
to devise and promote sustainable
solutions to bring empty property back
into use.
Tackling your Empty Homes and Low
Demand - Helps to Sustain our
Communities! - 25th May 2005
’The’ Low Demand Event of the Year!
Big efforts by the Government and the Market
Renewal Pathfinders to tackle our declining
communities, which have an abundance of long
term empty homes and low demand, seems to
be gathering increased momentum, especially
now that the ODPM (Housing, Planning. Local
Government and the Regions Committee) have
recently published the 'Written Evidence' on
'Empty Homes and Low Demand Pathfinders'.
This new challenging, informative and innovative
one-day seminar jointly organised by the Char-
tered Institute of Housing and the Empty Homes
Agency will update delegates on empty homes,
low demand and sustaining communities. Be
one of the first to hear what the experts have to
say, so don't delay - book your place today!!
The Benefits of Attending:
· Find out how to make the best use of Powers
in Tackling Low Demand and Empty Homes
· Learn about the Causes of Low Demand and
How to prevent Low Demand in your area
· Hear how to bring properties back into use
through fresh thinking and innovative design.
· Hear about Good Practice and innovative solu-
tions to Low Demand
· Find out how to resource tackling low demand
outside pathfinder areas
· Learn from credible and influential high profile
speakers, leading housing professionals, spe-
cialists and practitioners
Contributions Planned:
-John Earnshaw, Low Demand Project Manger,
Empty Homes Agency
-Professor Brendan Nevin, ECOTEC
-Tees Valley Living
Please see the ‘Events’ section on the
website for more details.
Low Demand Update
Press Release
Community Support Project
The Empty Homes Agency, which aims to
highlight the waste of empty homes throughout
England, has recently appointed a Community
Support Project Worker for its low demand pro-
ject, based in the North of England.
Stephanie Beresford joined the Agency in
January 2005 and will be working alongside
John Earnshaw, Low Demand Project Man-
ager, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The project
is funded by the Big Lottery (formerly Commu-
nity Development Fund).
Stephanie has previously worked for Sheffield
City Council in both the public and Private Sec-
tor Housing departments. Stephanie assisted
in establishing Sheffield City Council’s Empty
Property Team, which deals specifically in re-
ducing the number of private sector empty
homes within the city. She also has experience
of working within inner city neighbourhoods,
where there has been the issue of low demand
for both public and private sector housing and
has an understanding of the issues affecting
the lives of people living in these areas.
As Community Support Project Worker for the
Empty Homes Agency’s Low Demand Project,
Stephanie offers free independent advice and
support to individuals, community groups and
organisations, on how they might participate in
resolving the problems of living and working in
areas of low demand.
“My aim is to offer positive advice to those
people whose lives are affected by the prob-
lems of low demand and empty homes and to
encourage them to have more of a say in how
their neighbourhoods are managed. By getting
involved in community discussion people will
also have the chance to understand the issues
faced by housing providers and other organi-
sations involved in the decision making proc-
ess. However, the emphasis is still very much
on empowering the individuals and communi-
ties that are involved. People will be given the
skills and confidence they need to enable dis- APR—2005
cussion between themselves and other organi-
sations whose shared aim is to regenerate and
rebuild their community” 21-03-05
If you are an individual, community group or
organisation who requires assistance in liaising
with community groups, on issues relating to Northern Office:
low demand then Stephanie can be contacted The Empty Homes Agency
PO Box 3609
on (0114) 2654122. Barnsley
S75 1WW
Phone/Fax: 01226 390 093
Mobile: 07719 798 033