FOUR houses that have been left empty in a Radcliffe street for seven years are set to be regenerated after Bury Council moved a step closer to buying them.

Last week, the council announced it was about to submit a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for the terraced houses in Albion Street.

If the order is approved, work will be carried out to improve the properties and bring them back into residential use.

CPOs allow local authorities to obtain land or property without the consent of the owner, with council officials saying that it was necessary to make the order to improve the neighbourhood.

A council spokesman said: “Last year we announced plans to target empty properties in Radcliffe, including using CPO powers to buy up several properties in Albion Street that have lain empty for seven years.

“Our plans are now coming closer towards fruition and, once purchased, work will be carried out to improve these houses and bring them back into use.

“Empty properties not only make an area look bad, attracting anti-social behaviour and vandalism, but are a terrible waste when housing waiting lists are rising and demand for affordable housing is high.

“We have been working with property owners in Radcliffe and, out of 185 empty properties targeted over the last two and a half years, more than 100 have been brought back into use.

“Using CPOs is a last resort, but we will use those powers where necessary to improve neighbourhoods for the benefit of residents.

“The costs of compulsory purchase and of improving these properties will be recoverable through future rental income.”

A copy of the order, made under the Housing Act 1985, can be viewed at Bury Town Hall, and any objections must be made in writing to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government before 4pm on Tuesday, May 5.