The Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Carl Sargeant, visited a £10 million scheme, which is delivering much needed makeovers for empty properties and, in the process, is providing much needed quality homes across Wales.

Local authorities have already claimed £10 million from the Welsh Government with the aim of bringing at least 450 units of empty accommodation back into use as homes for sale or rent.

During a visit to a property in the Trevethin area of Pontypool, the Minister saw how a house that had been left to deteriorate badly in the 4 years it was empty, is being turned around to provide a quality family home in the future.

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The Richards family are undertaking extensive repairs and renovation work at the property, which is being partly funded by a £25,000 interest-free loan from the Welsh Government's Houses into Homes scheme.

The Minister said: "This house has been empty for four years, and at a time when our country is crying out for good quality accommodation for everyone, that is a sad state of affairs.

"I commend the Richards family for taking on this project, which will not only breathe new life into this property, but will be employing local people to perform much of the renovation work as well. It’s great to see, first hand, how Houses into Homes is making a real difference to the housing landscape of Wales."

Houses into Homes was launched in April 2012 and is funded by £10 million of new capital investment, aimed at providing interest-free loans to owners of empty dwellings in order to bring the properties back into use for sale or rent.

(CD/MH)