250 renovated Aberdeen properties ready to house Ukrainian families
A total of 500 homes will be renovated by April 2024 after £6.15 million of Scottish Government funding
Last updated 29th Jan 2024
250 Ukrainian families who are seeking refuge in Aberdeen will now be able to access renovated council housing following millions of pounds of Scottish Government funding.
In total, 500 void properties in the city will undergo renovation to home those displaced by conflict in Ukraine.
Half of the homes are ready, with the first family settled into their new property in December 2022.
READ MORE: 500 unused homes to be brought back into use for Ukrainian refugees
The project is expected to be completed by April 2024.
Minister visits refugees in Aberdeen
The Minister with Special Responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine, Neil Gray, viewed one of the renovated properties in Tillydrone after meeting with Ukrainian families now living in the Granite City.
He said: "I’m delighted to see the progress Aberdeen City Council has made in refurbishing properties to support displaced people from Ukraine.
"It was also a pleasure to meet with the families who are resettling in the city.
"The Scottish Government is keen to continue working closely with the Council to successfully complete the project and settle displaced families from Ukraine into these additional homes.
"The lessons learned from this project have already been applied to other areas where councils are bringing void properties back into use and I am grateful for the creative and proactive approach the council has taken."
Bringing homes back to life
Councillor Miranda Radley, Convener of Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee, said that the homes were only able to be upgraded thanks to the funding from the Scottish Government.
"The Scottish Government have funded us to upgrade some of our void properties that we were unable to be re-let.
"They were in such a condition that they were unable to be upgraded within our current housing stock and we're getting them back on scheme so that Ukrainian families can enjoy them.
"They are 500 of our worst conditioned properties, but through this money we are able to get contractors in and bring them up to a standard that people will want to live in them."