The latest phase of the initiative will see 35 rundown houses sold in the Portland Street area of Cobridge to eligible residents.

The city council will initially cover the cost of refurbishing the homes and will sell them for just £1.

But the new owners will have to pay back the cost of the refurbishment over a set period of time.

It is the first phase in a £3m project which will see 124 long term empty homes in Portland Street and Bond Street brought back into use.

The project will include a range of initiatives focusing primarily on the renovation and reoccupation of the empty properties and then moving onto various projects with the aim of creating a sustainable community.

The move follows a similar initiative in Liverpool to breathe life into abandoned streets.

Councillor Janine Bridges, cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and community safety, said: “We are now at a very exciting stage in this major project which will see a rundown area of the city transformed. This is a long running commitment to Cobridge on behalf of the city council.

“The project will not only benefit the residents who are currently living next to properties that have been vacant for some time, it will also give families moving into the homes the chance to take their first step on the property ladder.”

Local councillor Majid Khan added: “This investment will give the Portland Street area a new lease of life, injecting a sense of pride and energy into the community. We have worked closely with existing residents throughout the process and their input has been invaluable to getting the scheme up and running.

“Their continued support and the enthusiasm of residents who will move into these homes will play a key role of the success of the initiative.”