Councils encouraged to use powers to force empty property owners to 'clean up high streets, town centre or rural sites'
"3. Although the Government accepts the risk of avoidance activity is low, Local Authorities already have existing powers available to them to tackle some of the most obvious avoidance behaviour - for instance demolition and non-completion.
Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA)
4. Section 215 of the TCPA can be an effective tool in requiring land and buildings to be cleaned up when their condition adversely affects the amenity of the area. Section 215 of the TCPA can be used on large vacant industrial sites, town centre street frontages, rural sites, derelict buildings, and semi-complete development and the scope of works that can be required includes planting, clearance, tidying enclosure, demolitions, rebuilding, external repairs and replanting...."
http://www.rudi.net/node/19190 