East Cambridgeshire District Council

Owners of empty homes in Soham can now take advantage of a project that has brought life back into empty homes in Littleport.

Launched last year, the Empty Homes Project has assisted with the renovation of five empty homes in the Littleport area and is committed to bringing a further four homes back into use over the next 12 months. This has been achieved with grants and interest free loans worth over £160,000.

The project targets homes that have been vacant for more than six months as these are more difficult to bring back into use, can attract problems and create a fear of crime. Currently Soham has about 55 empty homes, which is roughly 10 per cent more than the average for the district.

Residents can apply for financial assistance worth up to £30,000 per property, as a grant worth up to £10,000 and loan of up to £20,000.

Cllr Tony Parramint, Chairman of Environment and Transport Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “The Empty Homes Project has helped a range of people from first time buyers to those looking to buy to let. To build on the success of the first year we have decided to open this offer up to residents in Soham.

"We have made changes to the project to make the funding more accessible. Originally the conditions of the grant meant if you sold the house within 10 years you had to repay all the money, we have now reduced this to five years. We also offer to pay 50 per cent of the grant/loan up-front, which helps those whose renovation has stalled. We can work with the current owners and estate agents to provide reports describing how the funding can be used before the property has sold.

"This is good news for Soham, the project provides a real incentive to turn wasted resources into decent homes, not only raising housing standards but also making communities feel safer."

Following a successful bid to the East of England Regional Assembly, East Cambridgeshire District Council was awarded £400,000 specifically to combat the problem of empty homes in the project area.

For more information on empty homes please contact John Merryweather on 01353 665555 or email john.merryweather@eastcambs.gov.uk.

ENDS

Notes for editors

For further information contact Tony Taylorson in the Press and Public Relations Office on 01223 699285.

Political contacts: Political Contacts: Cllr Tony Parramint (Conservative) 01353 721105 and Cllr Ian Allen (Liberal Democrat) 01353 664993.