WARRINGTON Borough Council has been given some festive cheer after being awarded £2.6m under the New Homes
Bonus, as part of the government’s national housing strategy.
The council has been granted the money from the housing minister Mark Prisk, for the number of new homes built and its work bringing long term empty properties back into use. 
The New Homes Bonus started in April 2011 and will match fund the additional council tax increases in housing stock from new build and long term empty homes brought back into use, as well as an additional set amount for affordable homes.
This is now the third year that the council has received this bonus and Warrington’s allocation is the sixth highest in the North West.
Last year the council was awarded £1.7m and this year’s increased amount is a result of an additional 605 properties built in Warrington, of which 187 were affordable homes. Warrington now has the lowest percentage of long term empty homes, at 0.87%, in the North West.
Cllr David Keane, (pictured) executive board member for environment and public protection, said: “It is fantastic news that we’ve been awarded more money under the New Homes Bonus this year especially given the reduction in other funding. Whilst we have the lowest percentage of long term empty properties in the region there are still too many empty homes in Warrington given the number of people seeking accommodation.
“I urge all homeowners who have long term empty properties to work with the council and our partners to bring these empty homes back into use and to join our No Use Empty Campaign.”
