Stevenson Encourages Applications for 'Empty Home Fund' in Banffshire and Buchan Coast

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, has welcomed a new £4 million fund that will help bring abandoned homes and empty high street spaces back to life.

The Scottish Government’s ‘Town Centre Empty Fund’ will help to revive empty homes and convert unused commercial spaces into new affordable homes. Funding will be administered by Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to registered social landlords and developers in Banffshire and Buchan Coast and throughout Scotland.

Since 2010, the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership has brought over 900 homes back into use and encouraged 17 of Scotland’s 32 authorities to appoint empty homes officers.

Mr Stevenson said:

“I am delighted that the Town Centre Empty Homes Fund has been launched and that my constituents as well as the rest of Scotland will benefit from it.

“I would encourage registered social landlords and developers across Banffshire and Buchan Coast to apply for funding so that we can begin to see empty homes filled with those who need them, and commercial spaces revamped for public use.

“Transforming more unused spaces into comfortable homes will help provide more affordable housing in Scotland. There are currently an estimated 27,000 long-term private empty homes and it makes sense to put these properties to good use to ensure more people have access to high quality, affordable housing.”

The deadline for applications is 21 August 2015.