An ambitious cross-boundary project, to tackle unoccupied houses in a poor state if repair across the districts of Mansfield and Bolsover is being piloted by an East Midlands regeneration agency.

The eyes of the UK social housing sector are on Meden Valley Making Places (MVMP), which is running a project funded by £700,000 in grant aid from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and £106,000 from the Department of Local Government and Communities (DLGC).

South Yorkshire Housing Association has also invested heavily into the pilot project and will become the landlord of the improved properties.

The scheme will breathe new life into ‘eyesore’ properties that threaten to blight otherwise desirable housing areas in Mansfield and Bolsover.

Homes that have been empty and neglected for months – or even years – can drag entire neighbourhoods into a downward spiral, according to MVMP, a regeneration specialist formed in 2003 to address the problem of poor housing stock in the former mining communities of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

MVMP chief executive Gary Kirk (pictured) said: “The government has set a target of building 240,000 new homes each year, but the economic downturn makes it extremely unlikely that this will be achieved.

“We hope that our initiative will stem the number of skilled people leaving the construction industry as a result of the decline in new build activity.  Their skills will be urgently needed by developers in order to meet demand for new homes as the economy recovers.”

The grant funding will be used to refurbish 10 houses selected from the two districts, in a project that will provide much-needed employment for local construction workers in a deprived area, while helping to preserve construction skills.

At the same time it aims to create a number of apprenticeships for young people in the area.

The selected houses will be refurbished to a high level of energy efficiency that meets the latest regulations on thermal and carbon emissions, helping keep heating and lighting bills to a minimum.

South Yorkshire Housing Association is also involved in the pilot project.  Chief executive, Tony Stacey said: “As a country we are building far fewer new homes than we used to, and this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. It is therefore more important than ever that we make the best use of the homes we have. That’s why SYHA has also got involved in this work.

“We will bring our award winning design and environmental expertise to demonstrate what can be achieved for older homes. In addition we will maximise employment and training opportunities for local people.”

If the pilot is successful it is hoped that it can be rolled out across adjoining local authorities.

Empty houses present a double quandary for local authorities at a time when the demand for homes is great.

Not only do they deprive families and individuals of a place to live, they also contribute to more widespread dereliction as neighbours move away, adding to the perceptions that an area is in decline.

David Ireland, chief executive of the Empty Homes Agency said: “MVMP has been very successful in revitalising the pit villages in the area, and has gained a lot of expertise in the process.  It’s a great that that expertise will now be applied to help get empty homes back into use across the area.

“It’s a positive idea that we welcome.  No one wants to live next to property that’s empty and in poor repair, but landlords who own these properties have had to cope with added financial pressure during the downturn – many are unable to do the necessary work without help.  This initiative will provide that help.

Mr Ireland added: “Improving empty homes may not be as glamorous as building new houses, but it provides homes just as well, for less money and at less environmental cost.”