Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell and Newquay Stephen Gilbert has tabled a Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) calling for Government action to tackle derelict and abandoned buildings. The local MP’s action comes in response to the growing number of abandoned hotel buildings in Newquay which pose a serious health & safety risk as well as being an eyesore and a barrier to regeneration.

The motion, titled ‘Government Policy on Derelict and Abandoned Buildings’ calls for the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to levy an ‘administration charge’ against such sites to recoup costs incurred by councils and other public bodies; and to introduce a land value tax against the developers at the rate which would be payable if a permitted development had gone ahead on the site.

Stephen Gilbert has previously worked with Newquay Councillors to raise this issue with Cornwall Council and with Ministers. Last autumn, Stephen met with the Communities & Local Government Minister to discuss local concerns and to ask the Government to issue clear guidance to Cornwall Council about the powers available to tackle the sites.

However, following a further 10 months of inaction, our local MP is now calling for greater statutory powers for Local Authorities, such as Cornwall Council, to be compensated for the costs of safeguarding and assessing the sites; and to abolish the tax incentives of leaving a derelict building to decay.

Commenting, Stephen Gilbert said:

“It is clear that derelict and abandoned buildings are a blight on our community. They pose a serious danger to the public, they distract from our beautiful landscape and they are a barrier to regeneration and sustainable development.

“It is absurd that the tax system gives these site owners and easy ride, and its plain wrong that the emergency services and local council are left to foot the bill of ensuring these sites don’t pose a risk to life.

“The measures in my Parliamentary Motion, which have already been implemented in other countries and were last considered in Whitehall more than ten years ago, would make developers think twice before buying up land, leaving it to decay and stalling developments for years. This form of ‘land-banking’ is one of the biggest barriers to regeneration in Newquay and other towns. It’s time the Government took action and introduced measures that put the community back in control.”

Councillor Joanna Kenny, whose ward includes the former Fistral Bay Hotel, said:

“If these proposals had been enacted before, maybe we could have avoided the rash of derelict buildings and sites that we have suffered for years right across Newquay.

“It seems incredible that the Business Rates system encourages developers and land owners to bank their land and leave perfectly good buildings to rot without any penalty – while forcing Cornwall Council, the Police and the Fire Service not only to spend money monitoring their sites but also more seriously to put their people at risk in these danger spots.”

Mrs Isabel Pascoe, a prime mover in setting up a team in Newquay Town Council to work with Cornwall Council on the town’s derelict sites, added:

“I am delighted that our MP is supporting us in demanding a change in the law concerning Business Rates – these derelicts sites should never be allowed to happen again.”