Empty flats survey in Elgin

Date Added - 20/05/09

Moray councillors have agreed to fund a survey of properties above shops in Elgin town centre to assess the feasibility of converting them into residential accommodation.

The study, which will cost £2,000, will form part of a wider survey of town centre properties being undertaken by the Elgin Business Improvement Working Group.

Moray has a high level of housing need and homelessness, particularly in Elgin.

Utilising empty properties in the town centre for affordable housing could help to address both issues.

Moray Council’s communities committee was told that getting people back living in town centres was one of the planks of town centre regeneration.

There was currently no information available on the numbers, types and condition of empty properties above shops in Elgin and it was also not known whether owners were prepared to let them.

A report to the committee said: "Without detail about the properties and owners’ views, it would be difficult to establish whether a scheme to bring rented properties into use would be appropriate.

"If it were feasible to develop a scheme to bring back empty flats over shops into use for housing purposes, it is strongly recommended that these properties are used to meet the council’s major strategic housing objectives to increase the supply of affordable housing and to meet housing need."