FIVE former police houses will be bought by Bournemouth council to create more affordable family housing in the town.

A total of £865,000 will be spent buying the five empty houses in Gladstone Road East and refurbishing them. The houses are currently owned by Dorset Police Authority but were put up for sale after being deemed surplus to requirements.

Following refurbishment, the three-bedroom homes will then be added to the council’s housing stock during the spring and allocated to families on the housing register. Over 25 years, it’s estimated the homes will provide the council with £295,000 profit.

Simon Ludgate, head of housing technical services and building maintenance, said: “Providing affordable housing is a high priority for the council and in particular we want to increase the amount of good quality, affordable family housing in Boscombe, as part of the ongoing work to regenerate the area.

“By renovating these properties, it will help towards our aim to develop 105 units in the borough as part of a three-year programme.”

And Cllr Robert Lawton, cabinet member for housing, said: “We will completely gut them, refurbish them and turn them into good quality, energy-efficient family homes.

“There’s a real need for more affordable housing in Bournemouth and we are trying to reduce the numbers of people waiting on our housing list.

“This is a way of people getting a good home in a nice area for an affordable rent.”