LUXURY homes that have stood empty since the 90s could finally be given a new lease of life as social housing.
The leafy cul-de-sac is home to luxurious four- and five-bedroomed properties – yet no one has lived there for three decades.
No one has lived on the estate for three decades
Calls are now being made to regenerate the site amid a growing housing crisis in the UK.
Built in the 1930s, Old Park Barracks, in Dover, played a significant role in the Second World War with the housing estate home to army personnel.
Doors and garages on homes in the site remain locked while every window is covered in steel shutters.
A plan to rehome 120 Gurkhas and their families at the site, currently owned by Annington Homes, collapsed in the 90s.
One idea now being put forward by a Tory councillor is for the local authorities to buy the site to provide much-needed social housing in the area.
Speaking to Kent Online about the empty barracks, Cllr James Back, whose ward encompasses the estate, said it’s “almost like it’s out of sight, out of mind”.
He is calling on Dover District Council to buy the site and redevelop the area.
“Could the council have done more to try and get them back or even purchase them or rent them? I think so,” he said.
“I don’t think that any properties should be standing empty wherever.
“It doesn’t matter where they are or who they belong to, they shouldn’t be standing empty.”
Calls are being made to redevelop the site
Growing housing crisis
Cllr Back said using the properties as social housing would help the growing housing crisis.
“It wouldn’t be that difficult to come up with some way of being able to use them as council properties,” he added.
The call for the site to be regenerated comes as Labour has vowed to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliament.
Last month, ministers announced plans to spend more than £40 billion building a dozen new towns in the UK.
According to the plans, each of the dozen new towns will have at least 10,000 homes.
Children’s toys and furniture remain on the site
This development would mark the first major programme of new towns since the post-war era.
Echoing the historic period, Labour said the towns represent “the next generation of cutting-edge communities”.
Speaking to delegates at the Labour party conference last month, Steve Reed, the housing secretary, said the project is designed to “restore the dream of home ownership” for families priced out of the market.
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