£12m plan to solve city 'housing crisis'

Bid to bring empty homes back into use

- Phil Corrigan

A COUNCIL-OWNED housing company could buy up empty homes and bring them back into use as affordable accommodation in a £12 million scheme.

The number of empty properties in Stoke-on-Trent has fallen in recent times but there are still more than 3,000 across the city, most of them in the private sector.

At the same time, there are more than 3,000 households on Stoke-on-Trent City Council housing waiting list, the majority of which are classed as being in highest need. Council bosses are now looking at using Fortior Homes, the authority's housing company, to tackle both of these issues by turning long-term vacant homes into affordable housing.

Up until now, Fortior has focused on providing market housing, such as the Clayworks apartment complex in Hanley. Members of the housing, regeneration and operations scrutiny committee were told that empty homes work, costing £10-12 million, would be included in the next phase of Fortior’s programme.