The Scottish government has pledged funding which could see more than 400 empty homes brought back into use for communities across Scotland.

Seventeen housing associations, councils and house builders submitted successful bids for the Scottish Government’s Empty Homes Loans Fund.

The fund is intended for private owners to help renovate empty homes in exchange for them being made available as affordable housing for at least five years.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Empty homes are a blight on many communities across Scotland. Standing empty these properties are no use to anyone. Renovated, they could provide much needed new homes for hundreds of people.

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"That is why more needs to be done to make better use of these existing assets.

"The Empty Homes Loan Fund, and wider work being taken forward by Councils as a result of the Shelter Scotland-led Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, can help significantly reduce the number of wasted, empty homes across Scotland."

Kristen Hubert, coordinator of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which is hosted by Shelter Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government, said: "Having an incentive like a loan to offer owners of empty homes is a key part of getting people to engage with our growing network of Empty Homes Officers and make positive choices about their properties. We will work with the successful bidders to help them make the most of their projects.

"We look forward with excitement to seeing so many empty homes that previously caused issues for their communities coming back to life as affordable housing."

(IT/GK)