A further multi-million pound cash boost for communities will help tackle the blight of empty properties and bring thousands of homes back into use, Communities Minister Andrew Stunell has announced.

Following bidding processes, 20 successful councils will each receive a slice of £60 million to tackle clusters of empty homes, and voluntary and community groups across the country will receive over £25 million to tackle individual empty properties in their area, ensuring that another 5,600 empty homes are lived in once again.

The number of long term empty homes has fallen to the lowest level since 2004, but with 720,000 empty homes across England, Mr Stunell believes there is still more to do.

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said: "The number of empty homes in this country is a national disgrace - for every two families that need a home there is one standing empty. Empty homes bring down a neighbourhood and attract vandals and fly-tipping, as well as being a waste of much needed housing.

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"I'm delighted to announce this funding boost today that will allow councils and community groups to bring these houses back to life and offer families a chance of a stable and secure home.

"We need to do much more to tackle this problem. This Government is breathing life back into these neglected neighbourhoods."

Previous announcements have seen £70 million allocated to bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing, the appointment of TV presenter George Clarke as an independent adviser to the government on empty homes, and plans brought forward to allow councils to charge extra council tax on properties vacant for two years or more through the Empty Homes Premium.

The announcement brings the total investment to £215 million to bring these empty properties back into use. Ministers believe that targeting the funding in this manner will have more success than previous attempts, such as the Pathfinder programme, that too often left families in half-empty ghost streets.

Empty homes can often attract anti-social behaviour and associated crimes such as vandalism and fly-tipping. By returning these homes into use and providing families with much needed homes, new life will be breathed into these areas as well as providing local training and employment to do so.

20 successful bids from local authorities have been announced under the Clusters of Empty Homes Fund with winning bidders offering value-for-money proposals and match funding alongside strong backing from their local communities.

(CD/GK)