A house in Ingol which was devastated by fire two years ago has been brought back to life to help the homeless or those in urgent need.

The Making Homes from Houses project, in partnership with Community Gateway Association (CGA), aims to renovate empty properties so they can be brought back into use as an affordable home.

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On Sunday February 26 2017, fire ripped through the house, damaging rooms and destroying property.

Fire crews battled for three hours to put out the flames.

Read more: Victim of Ingol house fire has crowd funding campaign started for her

Now, thanks to the new initiative, the blackened shell has become a shiny new home – the first to be completed under the Making Homes from Houses scheme.

A spokesperson foe Preston City Council said: “Empty properties can have a negative impact on communities.

“By bringing empty homes back into use, we can greatly improve an area’s appearance and boost people’s confidence in their neighbourhood.

“It does seem senseless having empty homes when people in need are on a housing waiting list, or even homeless.”

Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for planning and regulation, Councillor Peter Moss, said: “I would firstly like to thank everyone involved in this renovation – from the staff arranging the purchase, to the trades carrying out the brilliant refurbishment, to the housing team for finding a family who can now make this property a real home.

“This is a fantastic partnership with Community Gateway.

“By turning a neglected, empty house in the community into somewhere a family can live and feel safe is a winning combination.

“Other properties within the scheme are ready and waiting to be transformed, so this is only the first of many. If we can help renovate empty homes near you in Preston please get in touch.”

Rob Wakefield, Chief Executive of Community Gateway, added: “Community Gateway Association has been working in partnership with Preston City Council on this exciting project, bringing empty properties back into use to provide much needed affordable homes for the people of Preston.

“This severely fire damaged property had blighting the local community since February 2017.

“Our in-house team, Gateway PropertyCare, have carried out the major refurbishment works needed to bring this property up to standard and once again become someone’s home, and we are delighted with the results.”