Alex Colman

Landlords in Lincoln are set to benefit from a share of £150 million of government funding designed to refurbish and fill empty homes across the UK.

Lincoln was awarded £52,000 in the first round of funding, which it is using to revamp four privately owned properties in the city.

With around 1,600 privately owned homes standing empty and over 3,000 people waiting for council homes in Lincoln, the project aims to work with private owners who want to bring their properties back into use.

Strategic Housing Manager at the City of Lincoln Council, Alison Timmins, explained how thousands of enquiries come from people looking for somewhere affordable to live every year and the council wishes to extend the scheme.

Timmins said: “The pilot scheme will see properties transformed into a lettable state, providing much-needed affordable accommodation and although it’s a small start, we will bid for further funding in the coming weeks.”

Lindum Construction have been contracted to bring the homes up to a useable standard and Waterloo Housing Group let and manage the properties, giving a proportion of the income to the owner.

The deadline for landlords to make a bid for their properties to be considered in the second round of funding is January 23 and further information can be gained by contacting Jessica Thomas by email or calling 01507 355207.

Photo: Dominic Clark for The Lincolnite

Waterfront office development, The Maltings, has reached 100 per cent occupancy.

Ingeus UK Limited, the UK’s largest provider of the government backed work training scheme, moved into the building on Brayford Wharf East just six months after the development was fully completed.

The 4,300 sq ft office space is the newest expansion for the company, which employs more than 850 staff with 39 offices in the UK.

Letting of the building is managed by Banks Long & Co, and director William Wall is delighted at the popularity of the units.

Wall said: “The fact that 85 per cent of this 30,000 sq ft building was pre-let,  and the final completed suite let so quickly, is testament to the quality of both this location and the redesign of the building itself.”

Ingeus joins other businesses Wilkin Chapman LLP, RBS Bank PLC and Thompson and Richardson Insurance Brokers in the building, which is owned by Lincoln Corn Exchange and Markets, part of Lincolnshire Co-operative.