A report by the Director for Regeneration, Housing and Planning  advised the Cabinet that the Council had been successful in attracting Homes and Communities Agency funding to enable 10 long-term empty properties in the Borough to be brought back into use as much needed affordable housing and sold through the Councils HOUSED Programme.  The Funding would be matched by £60,000 New Homes Bonus funding that the Cabinet had agreed in July 2011.  (Minute No. 83 refers.)

The Cabinet was asked to approve the allocation of up to £380,000 funding from the former HMRI programme which Members had previously agreed (Cabinet Report on Housing Market Renewal End of Year Report 13 October 2011 – (Minute No. 163 refers.)) to use for Wallasey based Housing Market Renewal (HMR) projects. This funding would specifically refurbish and bring back into use properties at 85-89 King Street.  These were three long term empty properties which were currently causing blight in the neighbourhood.  The targeted use of the Wallasey funding to 85-89 King Street would provide, upon change of use, nine units of accommodation to help meet housing need in the area.

The Director informed that the Government had launched a fund of £15m to bring empty houses back into use.  He had made a funding application for £1m for Wirral.

Councillor J Green informed that he was pleased that a bid had been made for government funding.  However, he asked the Director to consider what the Council, itself, could do by releasing small amounts of capital to make some big differences.  He proposed that it would be very interesting to explore this further.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet notes the award of £218,000 from the HCA and agrees to match this funding with up to £380,000 carried over from HMR which together with £60,000 already approved from New Homes Bonus, will make a total scheme pot of £658,000 to deliver  up to 16 units of accommodation.