Fact Follows Fiction - The Unfolding Story of the MPs' Empty HouseFact often follows fiction, and so it is this week with MPs Mr and Mrs Keen and their empty house.
Back in 2005 soon after Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO) had been introduced Armando Iannucci thought it would make an entertaining topic for the comedy “The Thick of It”. Hapless minister Hugh Abbot digs himself into a hole over his empty flat and just about survives the onslaught of Alistair Campbell clone Malcolm Tucker. This week husband and wife MPs Ann and Alan Keen find themselves in similar difficulty.Something is very wrong
I apologise, the quality of these photographs is awful, but then so is the subject matter. This is the Ocean Estate in Stepney East London. In 2001 Tony Blair visited here to launch a £56million regeneration scheme that promised to transform one of Britain’s worst estates. Built between 1949 and 1975 it is made up of about 40 blocks and some 1700 flats all of which were due to come down to be replaced by a bright new mixed tenure community. But it wasn’t long before things started go wrong. By 2004 costs had spiralled, and several of the organisations involved were facing accusations of fraud.
Events
Date: 7-8 July 2009 | University of Warwick
Event: Homeless Link Annual Conference
A practical conference exploring different means to prevent and end homelessness. Join the homelessness community.
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Date: 16th July
Event: CIEH: Filling Empty Homes - New strategies for successful regeneration projectsGain a comprehensive understanding of the newly published EDMO guidance
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There are
empty homes in England*/**
*EHA projection based on CTB1 - Council Tax Data
**Counter courtesy of Alastair Droop,
Optimum Population Trust
Report empty properties directly to local councils via this website.
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