GLOUCESTER is to be given more than half a million pounds to improve derelict houses.
Communities minister Don Foster has announced that towns across England will benefit from £91m to refurbish and bring back into use over 6,000 empty and derelict homes and commercial premises, including £4.5 million for 147 homes in the South West.
In total Gloucester will get £590,000 to refurbish 16 homes.
The funding is designed to aid areas where empty properties have commonly led to problems such as squatting, rat infestation and collapsing house prices, driving remaining residents away.