A NEW post will be created to assist with an empty homes project.

Burnley Council will meet on February 12 to discuss the creation of an additional project assistant post to help support its empty homes programme.

The project consists of a series of measures to bring long-term empty properties across Burnley and Padiham back into use.

The council also offers incentives to owners to bring their empty home back into use. These provide owners with an interest-free loan to carry out improvements, a council tax charging system to encourage empty properties to be occupied and, under certain circumstances, the payment of selective licensing fees to private landlords.

Councillor John Harbour, executive member for housing and environment, said: “The empty homes programme has been successful in breathing new life into long-term vacant properties and bringing them back into use.

“We want to continue to build on this success and to achieve this we need an extra member of staff to support the scheme, engage with the owners of these properties and maximise the number of empty homes returned in to use.”

Owners of empty homes can contact the councils’ empty homes officer for advice and assistance on 01282 425011.