hi webbos, most councils have an Empty Properties Office or Housing Development Office these days. If you contact your local council and ask to be put through to this office they should be able to help you.
I did this before about a particular property, and they contacted the current owner of it for me to see if they were interested in selling it.
I think you have to have certain properties in mind, I don't think they'll give you a list of derelict properties in the area.