A TOTAL of 48 empty properties have been earmarked for renovation in Burnley.

The Empty Homes Clusters programme was set up to identify groups of empty properties suitable for refurbishment and bringing back to use.

The council successfully bid for £3.5million of Government funding to pay for the scheme. In total, up to 175 long-term properties will be renovated and brought back to use.

Under the scheme, owners of empty properties would be offered loans of up to £10,000, which they must match to help pay for renovation work. There would also be cash help for people wanting to buy the renovated properties and general improvements to the area.Three areas in Brennand Street, Gannow and Trinity have already been earmarked for the Empty Homes programme.

Coun Howard Baker, Burnley Council’s executive member for housing and environment, said: “This is about improving the quality of houses across the borough, stopping them from becoming derelict and a target for vandals and arsonists, and so boosting the quality of life for residents around them.

“Empty houses attract anti-social behaviour such as vandalism, fly-tipping and arson and they can drag down a street or neighbourhood.”