Council grant to deliver temporary accommodation

The grant is to refurbish 12 long-term empty properties in the Sheerwater area

A council in Surrey, which declared itself bankrupt last year, has been awarded £875,000 from central government to bring long-term empty homes back into use.

The grant from the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) is to help Woking Borough Council (WBC) deliver "much needed" temporary accommodation by 2026.

It is aimed at "addressing the immediate needs of homeless families and Afghan arrivals", the authority said.

A WBC spokesperson said the funding would be used to refurbish 12 long-term empty properties within the Sheerwater regeneration area.

In addition, the council must identify one four-bedroom property to either acquire or refurbish to comply with the grant conditions, a spokesperson said.

Councillor Ian Johnson, portfolio holder for housing, said: "The council remains committed to transforming Sheerwater but in a way that is affordable to the public purse.

"Refurbishing some of the homes using the LAHF grant will help to uplift the appearance of the area while ensuring those in need have somewhere decent to live.”

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