MORE than 300 Swindon families are now living in houses that used to be derelict and abandoned.
Swindon Council implemented its Empty Homes Strategy back in 1997. Now the council's cabinet will be told by officers on Wednesday that more than 300 empty properties have been restored to help provide affordable homes for lower income families in Swindon's high-priced property belt.
However, the officers' report will also show that in October this year there were 4,000 empty homes in Swindon, 'of which 1,400 are not being actively marketed for rent or sale'.
It will be proposed at the cabinet meeting that the council should confirm a target of returning 50 empty properties to use every year.
Swindon Council is following Government guidelines, which say: "Local authorities are recommended to develop effective empty property strategies for their areas as an important element of their overall local housing strategies and housing investment programmes."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article