PEOPLE in St Helens hoping to hop on the housing ladder have been given a boost thanks to a new property project.

Riverside have launched a new campaign called “Ownplace” to try and help those that can’t afford to buy their own home by giving them a 25 per cent discount.

This is done by bringing back into use empty properties that need serious investment and improving them to a mortgageable standard.

The scheme has already been rolled out across Merseyside, and is now coming to St Helens, with properties available on Fleet Lane, Herbert Street and Pitt Street.

And Riverside Director of Asset Management, Ian Gregg, hopes to make more houses available.

He said: “Since Own Place launched, we have brought over 250 empty homes back into use for sale to first-time buyers in Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, with a view to rolling out across the country.

For more information, visit www.ownplace.org