KETTERING Borough Council (KBC) have secured over £150,000 in funding to refurbish empty properties into new, affordable homes.
The six figure sum was granted by the Homes and Communities Agency under its Empty Homes Programme, which will deliver eight new homes to the area.
KBC has been identifying long term empty properties in the Borough to purchase, refurbish and let out via its housing register, Keyways.
John Conway, Head of Housing at KBC, said: “Every additional home we make available, makes someone’s life better.
"I am pleased to say that, under the Empty Homes programme, the Council has now succeeded in providing new homes for four families with the prospect of more to come."
The council has so far purchased five empty properties, four of which have been refurbished and have been let.
The homes are let on Fixed Term tenancies at Affordable Rent levels, which was a condition of the funding.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the most recently completed property on St. Mary's Road, Kettering earlier this month.
The ceremony was to celebrate the success of the project in securing external investment and creating 'much needed' affordable homes.
Cllr Steve Bellamy, Kettering Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, said:
“Providing affordable housing is an important issue and many local people want to see empty homes in their communities being renovated and brought back into use.
"We’ve worked hard to win funding through the Empty Homes Programme to bring these properties back into use after a long period of being unoccupied.
"It’s great news for people looking for somewhere affordable to live in the local area.”
By Daryl Greenland
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