A Forth Valley empty homes officer who has led efforts to bring empty homes back to use as affordable housing has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Allyson Allison runs the Forth Valley Empty Homes Project, a partnership between Falkirk and Stirling councils, and is a finalist for the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Robina Goodlad Excellence Award for Women Achievers in Housing.

In three years Allyson has helped bring more than 130 properties back into use as affordable housing, with one of them laying empty for more than 20 years. The rehabilitated properties help ease the shortage of affordable houses, contribute to the regeneration of communities and bring in additional council tax for local authorities to spend on services. The Forth Valley Project has brought in £375,000 in council tax, a combination of recovered arrears and the removal of discounts which apply to empty homes.

Allyson Allison said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been nominated and rather shocked to have shortlisted for the Robina Goodlad award.

“I get great job satisfaction being able to help and support owners and at the same time contributing to the national strategic objectives of bringing long term empty homes back into use and therefore contributing to the increase supply of homes.”

Allyson is a multiple award winner having already secured recognition for her work locally and at Scottish and UK Awards.

Kristen Hubert, national manager of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, said: “We are delighted to see that Allyson has been short-listed for the award. She brings tremendous enthusiasm to the job of motivating and problem-solving for the owners of empty homes who have often lost interest or feel overwhelmed by the task of bringing an empty property up to scratch. I wish her good luck for the final awards.”