A CITY council election candidate has pointed out that a civic-owned property has been empty for three years.

Ian Tait is standing as an independent candidate at the polls on Thursday May 6.

For 20 years he was a Conservative city councillor until 2019 and served on the planning committee for most of his time on the council.

He was the only elected councillor to back the Barton Farm development now called Kings Barton, citing the main reason as the 800 homes in the 2,000-dwelling development would be for people on the city council waiting list.

This week Mr Tait said the property on Tower Street, less than a minute's walk from the High Street, has been empty for years.

He said: “For every empty house there always seems to be an intriguing story but what I can't understand is when Council-owned properties are left empty. Number 16 Tower Street, for example, has been vacant for over three years yet it’s in a perfect location.

"The city council now wants to split the property into two flats but their planning application is on a 'go slow'. The council has lost maybe £20,000 in rent over the years, surely this just isn’t right”.

In a statement today the city council said: “Since 2019, the council has been undertaking works to restore 16 Tower Street to habitable condition. The development proposals, first submitted in 2020 and still under assessment, recommend turning the building into two affordable and self-contained flats. The council’s carbon neutrality goals remain a key priority and the new homes will prioritise a high energy performance rating whilst respecting the character of the Conservation Area in which the property is located.”