Derelict houses have been refurbished by a north Wales council in an attempt to address housing needs and reduce countryside developments.

The scheme is part of a strategy funded by the Welsh Assembly to renovate problematic vacant properties.

We target properties which have given us grief and which have had a lot of complaints from neighbours and local people

Steven Williams development officer

Flintshire council estimates the annual cost of keeping just one house empty is �6,000, including the loss of rent, dilapidation, insurance and council tax.

It is hoped that re-developing derelict property will improve local areas and slow down development in rural areas.

Officer for the scheme Steven Williams said the council will not tackle just any building.

"It's got to be a problematic vacant property, it's got to be in our area of housing need and the owners have to have had it for more than three years.

Complete renovation

"We target properties which have given us grief and which have had a lot of complaints from neighbours and local people."

Four houses in the Ffrith area of Flintshire have been completely renovated.

"The ones in Ffrith had toilets under the staircase and showers in one of the bedrooms," said Mr Williams.

The local authority are offering grants of up to 75% to owners to develop the property.

Houses extended

Work is carried out by an official construction firm and once completed the council plans to house tenants in the homes for five years.

All rent will be paid to the property owners.

The project at Chapel Terrace, Ffrith has involved all the houses being renovated and extensions being added to make them suitable for tenancy by a wider range of families.

As part of the scheme the council can nominate tenants from its housing waiting lists.

Thirteen properties have been developed already and a further seven are expected to be completed within the next year.