Funding secured for empty homes
Lancaster City Council is one of three districts in Lancashire to have embarked on an exciting partnership with Methodist Action (NW), a Preston based charity.
Methodist Action applied for funding, as part of the Homes and Communities Agency’s Affordable Homes Programme funding, of which £30 million was targeted nationally at community groups to bring empty properties back into use.
The scheme will make available capital funding to be spent on up to 20 properties that have been empty for more than six months. In return, the properties will be leased by Methodist Action (NW) for a five or 10 year period, who will work in partnership with the city council to find suitable tenants through the council’s Housing Options Team.
Councillor Karen Leytham, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing, said: "Lancaster City Council wholeheartedly welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with Methodist Action (NW) to bring forward empty homes in this district and to ensure that these properties will be made available to households in need and will be well managed.”
The city council will now be working with Methodist Action to identify suitable empty properties.
Any owners of empty properties who might interested in participating in the scheme should contact the Regeneration and Planning Service by email at emptyproperties@lancaster.gov.uk, telephone 01524 582375/582362, or write to them at Morecambe Town Hall, Marine Road East, Morecambe LA4 5AF.
Date Published: 14/08/12