Cottage revamp scoops prize

Perth and Kinross Council has won a national award for its efforts to transform a run-down rural property into a family home.

The derelict cottage on Abercairny Estate, near Crieff, was recently renovated for use as affordable social housing.

Council employees Jennifer Kent and Andrew White took photos before, during and after the transformation, which earned them a Champion of the Year accolade at the Scottish Empty Homes Awards.

Shaheena Din, national manager of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP), said: “I’d like to congratulate Andrew and Jennifer for their success at this year’s awards.

“Pictures paint a thousand words and these images show that an amazing family home has been brought back into use in an area with little affordable housing available to rent.

“We hope their success raises the profile of empty homes work and shows owners, including estates, that there is support to help them increase housing supply.”

The awards ceremony was held at the Engine Shed in Stirling this week.

SEHP is funded by the Scottish Government and was set up in 2010 to encourage and support councils to use the most effective methods of bringing vacant houses back into use.

Over the last eight years the partnership has helped transform more than 3,650 properties.