WARRINGTON Borough Council will pick up almost £4 million for its work to increase the number of affordable homes in 2014/15.

The New Homes Bonus is paid to councils from Government for growing the number of homes through new developments and restoring existing housing to a liveable standard.

The council’s executive board member for environment, Clr David Keane, said: “Warrington has earned this grant through the excellent work done by the council’s housing team in collaboration with our partner organisations.

“Warrington has reduced the number of long-term empty homes by 300 and has delivered 227 affordable homes.

“Our provisional allocation of just under £3.9 million is the fifth highest allocation in the north west. Only Manchester, Salford, Liverpool and Cheshire East are higher, and most of them have much larger populations than Warrington, so it’s clear we are punching above our weight.

“Warrington’s performance has meant our New Homes Bonus for next year is almost £1.3 million more than last year’s.”