Council’s Empty Homes Scheme up for national housing award

Orkney Islands Council is in the running for a prestigious housing award for its efforts to bring empty homes back into use.

The council’s Empty Homes Scheme is a partnership between the council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership. It has been named as a finalist in the Best Service Category at the Howdens Scottish Empty Homes Champions of the Year Awards, despite the scheme only being set up last June.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony which takes place alongside the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership annual conference on Monday, November 26, at The Engine Shed in Stirling.

Shaheena Din, national manager of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, said: “I’d like to congratulate the team in Orkney for being named as finalists at this year’s awards. All our finalists have impressed our judging panel with the innovation and dedication that they bring to the task of helping owners and others bring empty homes back into use. This work is vital to ensuring we increase the supply of housing and strengthen communities which can be blighted by the impact of long-term empty properties.”