Redundant council properties could be on the market at sites across Rotherham under sale plan

Picturesque: A cottage in the rural village of Scholes is among properties Rotherham Council may sell

Members of the council’s ruling Cabinet are to be asked to approve plans to get rid of the properties, which have been vacant for years in some cases and subject to deterioration or deliberate vandalism.

They include several properties last used as care homes, along with others which have been rented out but are no longer wanted as part of the council’s housing stock.

The properties have been held by the council so far to allow officials to investigate whether they could have a new future being used for other purposes.

If cabinet members approve, work will be done to try to sell the properties during the current financial year.

They include an empty cottage in the village of Scholes, which is said to have structural problems but may still bring in £100,000 for the council.

Potential values are not listed for many of the properties, which include a former care home it Goodwin Crescent, Swinton, which has been subject to vandalism and fire damage after standing vacant for years.

A house in Nelson Street, Boston Castle, has been empty since May 2017 and another at Percy Street in the same area is also empty and described as deteriorating.

The former Netherfield Court care home in Eldon Road, Eastwood, has been surplus since 2016 and a pair of semi-detached houses, knocked through to make one children’s home in Creswick Road, East Herringthorpe, has been out of use since 2017.

A former children’s home in Studmoor Road, Kimberworth, has also been out of use since 2017.

A report to cabinet members states: “The overall condition of the properties is deteriorating and many are suffering from continued acts of vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

“A number of service directorates and public sector partners have shown interest in utilising individual properties in the past, however none of the proposals have come to fruition and the council has continued to be liable for the significant holding costs.”

They are warned there will be “a significant financial burden on current resources” if the properties are held without being put back into use.