Hundreds inquire over £1 sales of Stoke-on-Trent homes

Hundreds of inquiries have been made over a scheme in which some empty Stoke-on-Trent homes will be sold for £1 each, the council said.

As part of a trial scheme, 35 council-owned homes on Portland Street, Cobridge, will be sold to people willing to revamp them.

About 400 to 500 inquiries had been received, including 230 from the city.

Applicants include individuals, landlords wanting to rent a property out and firms wishing to buy homes.

Five year commitment

A committee would be set up between the council and its partners to decide on the criteria for applicants, the authority said.

The Labour-led council, which approved the plans at a meeting on 30 August, has said bringing homes back into use would help to regenerate communities.

It has said buyers would have to live in the properties for at least five years but would be eligible for a low-interest £30,000 loan to help improve the homes.

The £3m scheme has been part-funded through a government grant to bring properties back into use.

The houses were due to be demolished and the area redeveloped until a government scheme was withdrawn.

Many of the houses owned by the local authority were bought from private owners and were due to be demolished under the government's £1bn national Pathfinder programme, which was scrapped in 2010.