IT HAS been an blot on the landscape for 15 long years.
But new life is now being breathed back into a small terraced house in Raywood Villas, west Hull.
It is one of 42 previously empty properties currently being renovated by Hull social housing company Giroscope.
The work is part of a wider programme involving the city council and a number of housing partners aimed at creating new living accommodation in 650 previously empty properties.
It also marks a sentimental return to where it all began for Giroscope.
"We did up our first house down Raywood Villas in the 1980s. Now we own half the houses in the street," said Giroscope founder Martin
Newman.
Originally set up by a group of students and unemployed people as a worker's co-operative, the company's philosophy always centred on buying, renovating and then letting run-down properties at affordable rents.
Recently, successful bids to the Government's Empty Homes Community Grant initiative have accelerated the company's workload.
"It's allowed us to bring forward a lot more houses, employ some more people and take on a couple of apprentices which is all good news.
"We also try to buy all our materials locally so it's also good for the local economy too," said Mr Newman.
However, the current renovation in Raywood Villas is probably not your typical Giroscope project.
As yet, because of the scale of work required at the property, a finishing date has yet to be pencilled in.
"It's been empty since 1998, so it has involved a lot of work," said Mr Newman.
"Having said that, it has also provided some great experience for our volunteers and, as we are going to be the City of Culture in 2017, we don't want to have lots of visitors coming here looking at hundreds of empty properties."
Other partners working with the council include Probe, Preston Road Women's Centre, drugs and alcohol support charity DISC, Pickering and Newington Development Association and the Goodwin Development Trust.
The projects include the possible refurbishment of the derelict New York Hotel in Anlaby Road, west Hull, and the empty Cornmill Hotel in Holderness Road, east Hull.
The council is refurbishing 72 bedsits by converting them into one-bedroom flats is also looking to convert two shops, offices and a former care home it owns into new living accommodation.
Councillor John Black, portfolio holder for council infrastructure, said: "Working with our partners is vital to bringing 650 properties back into use across the city, it allows us to join forces and bring together all our knowledge and resource to ensure we develop, progress and complete the essential programme.
"The council is committed to bringing as many empty properties as possible back in use to increase the housing stock in the city."
