Hundreds of empty homes brought back into use

Hundreds of empty homes in Shropshire have been fixed up and brought back into use following a five-year project.

In total, 375 have been revived, with 111 of them being acquired by Telford & Wrekin Council to house vulnerable people.

It comes after the authority launched a long-term strategy in 2021, to tackle abandoned homes that had fallen into disrepair or attracted anti-social behaviour.

"Our Empty Property Team has worked tirelessly over the last five years to work with property owners, use enforcement action where necessary, support our local communities and ultimately turn hundreds of empty properties back into warm and inviting homes," said the council's deputy leader Richard Overton.

"When we launched our [strategy], we set out to bring at least 375 empty homes back into use. I'm pleased that, working with property owners and our dedicated team, we have now reached that target."

With the privately-owned properties, the council said its officers offered advice and support on how the home could be back into use.

Across England, it is estimated that more than a million homes are currently unoccupied, with over 309,000 of those classed as long-term empty.

Last month, organisations including the Big Issue, Women's Aid, Shelter and Resonance sent a letter to housing minister Matthew Pennycook MP calling for action to be taken to get them back in use.

The government said it was setting out "plans to make it easier for empty homes to be brought back into use".

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