A £4m fund has been unveiled to help transform empty properties into affordable housing.

The Town Centre Empty Homes Fund will provide both grant and loan funding to help increase the housing supply in towns throughout Scotland.

It will offer funding to regenerate homes which have been lying empty for a lengthy period of time, as well as be used to convert empty commercial spaces into residential accommodation. When completed, they will be made available for affordable sale or rent.

-- Advertisement --

Announcing the latest investment, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said: "Making sure everyone has access to affordable homes where they can feel safe and warm, is a priority for the Scottish Government. But it's not just about building new homes, we need to make better use of our existing housing stock and properties.

"It makes absolutely no sense for us to have more than 30,000 homes lying empty when homelessness still exists in Scotland.

"Empty shops and flats can be an eyesore in our communities, devaluing our properties and even encouraging anti-social behaviour. Bringing these empty properties back into use is a cost-effective way of increasing the supply of housing available to families across Scotland and it also aides community regeneration.

"By transforming derelict shops and flats into new homes, we will be able to inject some life back into our town centres and make them attractive places to live and work."

(JP/MH)