Architect and TV presenter George Clarke is to be an independent adviser to the Government to help bring thousands of empty homes back into use for families in need of stable, secure homes, Ministers have announced.

Although the numbers of empty homes have fallen to their lowest level since 2004, there are still 720,000 homes sitting empty across the country - with 280,000 left vacant for six months or more.

Ministers have already announced £150 million to bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing - including £50 million to tackle clusters of empty homes.

Mr Clarke presented Channel 4's recent series of programmes, The Great British Property Scandal. His work as independent adviser on empty homes will particularly involve:

•promoting bringing empty homes back into use

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•raising public awareness of the benefits of bringing empty homes back into use and encouraging people to report empty homes in their area

•encouraging councils, housing associations and voluntary groups to identify innovative and good ideas and sharing this across communities

•challenging Government and other public bodies to ensure publicly-owned homes are not left empty

•exploring whether current plans for demolition in councils could be scaled back.

Mr Clarke said: "There are hundreds of thousands of empty homes that could and should be saved from the bulldozers and refurbished.

"I totally support the building of new homes when it's necessary but not when it's cheaper and quicker to refurbish empty homes than to build from scratch. It can be kinder to communities and the environment - and it makes sense in these tough economic times.

"I care passionately about this subject and I'll leave no stone unturned in my efforts to find a solution to the problem and get these houses back into use for the families who need them."

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: "George Clarke has been a phenomenal campaigner against the scourge of Empty Homes. His popular Great British Property Scandal programme raised the issue up the agenda. I'm pleased to report that the number of empty homes has fallen in the two years since this government came to office. Now we hope to accelerate that work further with £150 million of investment and George Clarke as our Empty Homes Adviser."

(CD)