The Scottish Government is encouraging local authorities, housing associations and private developers to sign up for a £2m fund which aims to help bring empty town centre properties back into use for affordable housing.

Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay unveiled the launch of applications for the Town Centre Housing Fund during the annual Royal Town Planning Institute conference in Glasgow.

Funding for the scheme was set aside in the 2013 budget and developers, councils and housing associations have until 30 October to apply.

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The fund complements work already underway to improve Scotland's town centres.

In July, the Government welcomes the independent Town Centre Review which highlighted key recommendations for re-energising the country's town centres.

The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the report and is expected to respond with an action plan later this year.

Mr Mackay said: "The Scottish Government is determined that our town centres should be vibrant places where local people and visitors alike want to live, work and do business in.

"Many of our town centres have empty properties that are no longer in use and blight out high streets. To tackle this we have developed a Town Centre Housing Fund aimed at bringing empty town centre properties back into use for affordable housing.

"This fund will complement on-going town centre regeneration activity. We are now seeking bids for this fund, and I urge all local authorities, housing associations and private developers to consider entering a bid."

(JP/CD)