MORE than 100 empty homes are to be brought back into use in Calderdale.
Over £500,000 has been made available to the council to fund works to bring 130 empty homes back into use in and around Halifax town centre.
The money came from the Government’s Clusters of Empty Homes Fund and will be match funded by property owners.
The council has identified clusters of empty properties in and around Halifax town centre which could be brought back into use as homes.
Clr Barry Collins, Calderdale’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Environment, pictured, said: “We recognise that the unused space is going to waste and can attract criminal and anti-social behaviour.
“We have already removed Council Tax discounts for long-term empty homes, and we provide assistance and advice to owners of empty homes to help bring them back into use.
“As a result, the borough has seen a 30% reduction over three years in the number of homes empty for more than six months.
“The Government funding will boost our work even further, helping us increase the number of people living in and near Halifax town centre and support struggling home and shop owners.”
