MORE than than 900 houses were recorded as being 'long-term vacant' in the borough last year, a reduction since 2015, according to Freedom of Information request figures.

Statistics obtained by the Star show that 936 houses were classed as being long-term empty in the most recently recorded figures in October 2017.

This indicates the number of homes in the borough which have been empty for six months or more.

Council tax figures from October stated there were 2,853 unused homes in total in the borough.

The issue of empty houses has been the subject of a political row following the publication of the initial draft of the Local Plan last year which had proposed to release some green belt land.

Campaign groups opposed to this have said that bringing empty properties back into use should be prioritised ahead of building on the green belt.

Freedom of Information request figures also show that the overall number of empty houses has reduced from two years earlier.

In October 2015, there were 1,022 long-term empty homes, while 12 months later the figure was down to 935, almost identical to the 2017 figure.

Statistics also revealed the amount of previously empty homes which were brought back into use due to council intervention over the past three years.

During 2015/16 there were 106 houses returned to use which increased to 161 homes for the year after.

The council added it has not made use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders to bring long-term empty houses back into use but has adopted "alternative enforcement processes where appropriate" including Enforced Sale and Compulsory Purchase Orders.

St Helens Council has stated its Empty Homes Strategy has seen more than 800 dwellings brought back into use since 2003.

Figures for vacancies and existing planning permissions must be compared against the scale of housing need, a spokesman has said and the authority will "take relevant up-to-date information concerning all these issues, and the continuing need to redevelop brownfield land in the urban area, into account as it progresses its Local Plan".