FIVE years ago, the Evening Press exposed the scandal of the empty MoD homes. Former Ministry of Defence properties near RAF Linton-on-Ouse and elsewhere had been left to rot while the housing crisis intensified.

The campaign was a great success. The Linton homes were bought by a developer and refurbished, and were snapped up by local people. From boarded up ghost town to smart family estate in five months: proof of what can be achieved with vision and application.

As part of that campaign, we revealed that the same problem affected Acomb in York. More than 50 former defence personnel homes in Tedder Road and Slessor Road were standing vacant. As a result of our pressure, the MoD said it would lease some properties to the council.

That was only a temporary solution, of course. So we are delighted to report today that the area is to be redeveloped to provide 148 permanent new homes. Only seven will be low-cost houses, but a further 48 will be rented out.

In one deal, this removes the eyesore of derelict homes and offers new hope to those on the housing waiting list. It shows again that change is possible when all the relevant agencies - the MoD, the council, the developers and a housing association - come together bound by a determination to make things happen.

Much more of this can-do attitude is needed. According to the Empty Homes Agency, in 2001 there were more than 100,000 vacant properties in Yorkshire and Humberside - an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year. In York, 3,000 were empty.

Most of these are privately owned. The Government has recognised that this is a scandal and earlier this year announced a multi-million pound fund to renovate empty homes and licence private landlords.

That work is vital. Until everything is done to ensure empty homes are occupied, the case for building new houses on green belt sites will be far from compelling.

Updated: 11:45 Monday, November 11, 2002