AN innovative grant scheme will return to tackle empty homes in south Cumbria.

South Lakeland District Council has announced plans to bring back their Empty Homes Grant Management Scheme, which aims to help with repairs to make empty homes habitable again.

In June, an investigation by The Mail found almost 2,000 empty homes in Barrow, Ulverston and Millom.

The council has now secured a further £60,000 to run the scheme again.

Councillor Jonathan Brook, SLDC deputy leader and portfolio holder for housing and innovation, said: "This scheme has always been a real 'win-win' situation for all involved.

"The owner gets the property upgraded to a good standard, the council gets to bring an empty home back into use towards our key aim to provide more affordable housing, especially in areas of most need, and the tenant gets a good quality home.

"With the new flexibilities around being able to contribute to repair costs and the ability to exit the arrangement earlier than the full five years, hopefully it should appeal to even more property owners."

In 2015, Justine Steel, partner Will Little and their three children were able to stay in their hometown after a £20,000 grant was provided.

Copeland backs empty houses week

Councils across the county are marking National Empty Homes Week this week with new pledges to tackle the number of empty homes.

Copeland Borough Council has joined the call to identify empty homes in the area, and has asked residents to highlight ones in their neighbourhoods.

The council has a dedicated empty homes officer trying to reduce the 1,230 vacant homes in Copeland.

Mike Starkie, mayor of Copeland, said: "We are always looking to reduce the number of empty homes and we actively work with the owners of empty properties to encourage, assist and sometime enforce change.

"The officer locates empty homes, prioritises them and contacts a selection. In addition, whenever we receive a complaint, we take action. We look at the condition, length of time empty and what effect they have on the rest of the community.

"Owners are firstly helped to look at the best way of improving and using the property. This could mean advising on help-to-let properties, linking them with agencies that can assist with repairs so they can be sold, or advising on auctioning properties."