A number of empty properties in Preston could be brought back into use as social housing.

Community Gateway Association is poised to be handed £400,000 by Preston City Council to run the scheme.

The city council is using money from developments across the city, known as Section106 payments, to set up the new fund.

Houses which are identified as ‘long-term’ empty homes in the city will be looked at under the scheme.

Read more: New community green space restored in Fishwick

Gateway would then buy the houses and bring them back into use following refurbishment, those in the homes would become Gateway tenants.

A report to the city council’s cabinet states around 13 refurbished properties would be delivered in the first year of the project, with between 20 to 30 homes being refurbished in total.

Read more: Developers apply to expand city centre flats scheme

Councillors meet on Wednesday (18 April) to hear more about the scheme.

What do you think of the idea and the scheme? Let us know your views in the comments below