Work to bring an ‘abandoned, dilapidated’ Blandford house that had sat empty back into use for people to plan the rest of their lives is nearing completion.
Extensive work has been carried out to renovate the long-term empty property to provide much-needed accommodation and the chance for residents to make plans for the rest of their lives.

The property, West View, was identified by empty homes officers working for Housing Standards at Dorset Council, who track down long-term empty properties and work with property owners to turn them into good quality homes.
In this case they negotiated the purchase of the property and secured funding to renovate it in 2021.

Builders started work in September 2022 to fully renovate the property, creating six much needed single bedroom units of accommodation.
The council said West View will become stable accommodation for people in the area.
A council housing representative said: “The accommodation will be available to local people to help them make plans and support their decisions to move on to permanent accommodation.”

Being in a conservation area, the house has been sympathetically modernised, including the installation of new, timber sash windows and enhancements to the building’s original character.

The final stages of the project coincided with Empty Homes Week 2023, which ran from February 27 to March 5.
Dorset Council says West View is an example of working with property owners to turn empty properties into good-quality homes, as part of the authority’s Empty Homes Policy.
Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, portfolio holder for housing and community safety, said: “I am delighted that the project to renovate and use West View to provide homes is nearing completion. “The project team have taken an abandoned, dilapidated, eye sore and turned it into an invaluable home and asset for Blandford. We can all be proud of what we have created here.

“My thanks also go to the neighbours and residents of Blandford for their patience while this much-needed work was carried out. We will all now reap the benefits for years to come.
“By purchasing such long-term empty properties like West View, the council will be giving people a breathing space in much needed accommodation, with the support to move on to more permanent homes, as well as using money in a more sustainable way than high-cost bed and breakfast accommodation.”
Anyone aware of a long-term empty property which the council could use for much-needed accommodation should contact the team via www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.