EMPTY flats above shops in Monmouthshire's town centres could provide affordable housing in a bid to help first time buyers.

The initiative was put forward in a report presented to the county council by the cabinet member for social services, Cllr Brian Hood which highlights the steps being taken by the council to tackle homelessness and the shortage of accommodation within the county.

Despite falling numbers in homelessness, trends forecast 241 for the coming year. Of those 40 per cent are families with dependent children, 15 per cent are lone 16/17 year olds, 23 percent involve domestic violence and 34 percent involve a pregnant woman.

Cllr Hood explained that the housing options team is working to utilise empty homes in the four town centres after a survey revealed that there are 54 empty properties above businesses.

Cllr Liz Hacket Pain said: "I am sure we have all looked up and wondered at the empty rooms above shops and thought someone could live there.

It is an ideal opportunity for young people as the properties have no gardens and would fit well with a young person's lifestyle."

Cllr Hood said that the team is approaching the owners to see if they would be willing to convert them into homes.

"We are looking to secure grants for conversions in return for us to be able to use the properties for those on the housing list, not just for renting but to purchase in the home buy scheme.

"We're trying to get people on the property ladder as well as assisting some people who will not be able to get on it.

"It will help the town centre business in their economic activities and help regenerate life into the town."

Councillor Verona Nelmes criticised current house prices as too high for first time buyers. "There is no doubt that there are young couples in Monmouthshire who cannot afford to purchase housing. That has been an increasing problem.

The report stresses that homelessness is a major challenge for Monmouthshire and a problem for the whole of the UK. It acknowledges that the council "will not achieve the WAG targets, let alone our own, for sometime, if ever within our resource."