The winner of the first Scottish Empty Homes Champion of the Year award has been announced.

Homes Again is a project working to bring some of Scotland’s 23,000 long-term empty homes back into use.

The accolade was presented at an awards ceremony in Glasgow organised by housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, who run the Scottish Government-funded Scottish Empty Homes Partnership in conjunction with Camelot.

The Homes Again Project was launched in April of this year and is represented by five council officers from the Scottish Borders, Fife, West Lothian, East Lothian and Dumfries & Galloway.

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The project was awarded for providing advice and support for empty home owners and for its work across the south and east of Scotland connecting owners of empty homes with buyers and tenants.

The awards are the first of their kind to recognise the work to bring empty homes back into use across Scotland.

Kristen Hubert, Coordinator of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, said: "The Homes Again Project is a worthy champion and demonstrates the positive impact of partnership working, but also that results can be achieved at speed for the benefit of both the empty home owner and potentially a family or individual looking for a safe, secure and affordable home.

"We hope to see other councils working together in this way to bring some of Scotland's 23,000 long-term empty homes back into use."

Alan Russell, Senior Manager (Housing Asset Management) commented: "Scotland needs a pro-active solution to the problem of empty homes which blight communities.

"Bringing properties back into use is positive on many levels: it prevents further disrepair, it restores a sense of community in an otherwise derelict area, and above all it offers the opportunity for an affordable home to those who need it."

(IT)