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Empty house in Plungington one of 36 renovated and brought back into use

Posted on - 10th March, 2024 - 12:00pm | Author - | Posted in - Housing, Politics, Preston Council, Preston News
The empty property was reported to housing standards in 2021 but had been empty since 2013 Pic: Preston City Council

More than £4million has been ploughed into bringing 36 empty properties back into use in the city.

Preston City Council has shown how its Making Homes from Houses scheme has taken a five-bedroom house in the Plungington area back into use.

Standing empty for nine years the house was first reported as an empty home to housing standards in June 2021.

Read more: Preston City Council and Onward Homes strike deal for Horrocks Mill social housing

The former student flats in Brackenbury Road had been abandoned since 2013 with pigeons now nesting in the property.

Council officers contacted the owners, who lived in Scotland, and offered them the property could be part of the scheme which would convert it into affordable housing for families in the area and be transferred to Community Gateway Association to own and manage.

The city council helped to repair the building including replacing guttering, new windows and doors, new flagging, re-wiring and new partition walls in the roof space.

How the empty property now looks after renovation – and is home to a family who were on the city’s housing list Pic: Preston City Council

Read more: Plans to turn neglected but historic HMO into restored, unique dwelling

On average £155,000 is spent on bringing each property back into use, with funds being invested by the city council, Community Gateway Association and Homes England.

Cabinet member for health and wellbeing at the city council, councillor Jennifer Mein, said: “This brilliant and innovative scheme has already gained national recognition and continues to do so, with officers presenting at the Empty Homes Network event this summer.

“Empty properties can have a negative impact on communities. By bringing empty homes back into use, an area’s appearance can be greatly improved and boost people’s confidence in their neighbourhood.

“There is currently a shortage of satisfactory affordable housing across the country, not just Preston. Your empty property could be a new home for a person in housing need, a young family looking for their first home or an older person looking to downsize.

“Re-using your empty property could also save you money. Keeping a property empty can cost almost £8,000 a year. If there’s an empty property near you, get in touch with the council to see what can be done.”

The city council says there are 14 further properties they are in the process of being renovated or being obtained to be part of the scheme.

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