The Development Trust Association is conducting some research to understand the number of problem buildings in the UK that have been abandoned or are in irresponsible private ownership.

Hastings Pier, Hastings – owned by a company registered in Panama. Closed for safety reasons in 2006 and has been abandoned.
Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust has been working to encourage the council to take action.

Palace Theatre, Plymouth – owner is in prison for drug offences but the building cannot be confiscated by the police. Millfields Trust is keen to rescue and develop the building.

Thornhill Estate Pub\ Nightclub, Hull – has blighted the estate it sits within for many years, the Goodwin Development Trust wants to take on the challenge but the council has been unwilling to take on the risk of CPO.

We are particularly interested in buildings that are seen as important to local communities but have fallen into private ownership and been left to ruin.

We are interested to know how widespread this problem is, whether compulsory purchase is seen as the solution or if there is a better way to deal with the issue.

Does this sound familiar? Please visit our online survey to tell us about problem buildings that you know about.