Birch Meadow Homes in Battenhall Remain Empty for Six Years
The 12 homes at Birch Meadow in Battenhall have been vacant for six years, despite a growing housing demand in Worcester
Worcester, Battenhall, Housing, Empty Homes, Dale Misters
Worcester: So, there’s this situation in Battenhall where a whole bunch of homes at Birch Meadow have been sitting empty for six years. Can you believe it? Dale Misters, the builder, really wants families to move in. He’s got 12 homes just waiting for people to call them home.
Meanwhile, there are about 3,700 folks on the housing waiting list in Worcester. It’s a bit of a mess, right? Some homes are just sitting there, while people are desperate for a place to live.
A report from Action on Empty Homes shows that the number of long-term empty properties has gone up from 503 last year to 573 this year. That’s a 14% jump!
The empty houses at Birch Meadow come in different sizes—one, two, and three bedrooms. It’s a real shame they’re not being used.
There’s also this other development in Shrub Hill that’s been empty for ages. Last December, a local councillor mentioned that it could help with the housing crisis, but the flats aren’t ready yet.
Back to Mr. Misters, he’s in talks with a housing provider to manage those 12 homes. Out of those, nine are meant to be affordable, and three are for shared ownership.
He lives in Birch Meadow himself and is really hoping for a solution soon. He said it would be such a relief to finally see families moving in after all this time.
“We built them for that reason,” he said. “It’s just nice to have people in them, whether it’s families or older folks.”
Green councillor Louis Stephen is also on board with this. He’s been pushing to get these homes filled because red tape has kept them empty for too long. He’s excited that families will finally have homes.
Cllr Stephen has been hearing from residents about this issue for months. He said it’s ridiculous that no one has moved in yet, especially with so many people struggling to find affordable housing.
He’s looking forward to welcoming new neighbors to Battenhall. It’s a nice area with plenty of space and amenities, and it should be enjoyed by those who need it.
In 2023/2024, Worcester City Council’s Housing and Homelessness services received over 2,000 homelessness approaches. It’s clear that the need for housing is urgent.