It would have been a major surprise, given recent government press releases, if the New Homes Bonus had not gone ahead more or less as planned. And that is exactly what has happened. The final scheme design announced today is, as far as we can see, identical to the model proposed in the original consultation document.
That means the New Homes Bonus has now been introduced for empty homes, and you can see the relevant figures for long-term empties in your area (or any other) by using the New Homes Bonus Calculator spreadsheet. Use this link to access the page with the calculator and the letters to Chief Execs, Leaders and MPs. The best sources for understanding the bonus are the original consultation or our own briefing (available to full members only). We'll update our briefing shortly to reflect the fact that the proposal has now gone live.