TORRIDGE District Council's lead member for housing leant his support to National Empty Homes Week earlier this month.

National Empty Homes Week is an initiative by the Empty Homes Agency which aims to raise awareness of the potential of empty homes to meet housing need, as well as promote solutions that will bring empty homes back into use.

Cllr Lausen said: 'There are many reasons why homes are left empty but it is vital that we all work together to tackle this problem. Getting empty properties back into use can benefit us all and plays an important part in the regeneration of communities.'

Torridge has recently signed up to an innovative new scheme aimed at bringing some of the 300 empty homes in the area back into circulation.

The scheme can provide loans of up to £15,000 to owners of empty properties to help bring them back into affordable use.

Cllr Lausen added: 'If owners of empty homes are unable to access funds to bring their properties back into use, this initiative should help tackle the problem and give them an opportunity to do so.'

Torridge is also working with the Rural Housing Team at the Community Council of Devon on a new community based approach to the issue of empty homes. A special toolkit, due for completion in January, is being produced for town and parish councils to help them advise owners how to return their empty properties back into use.

If you own or know of any empty homes that could be brought back into usable housing stock, please contact Torridge's Housing Renewal team on 01237 428848.