Officer success in attracting grant funding which has helped Pembrokeshire buy nearly £.5m in council housing in the last six months, has been praised by senior councillors.

A report presented by deputy leader Cllr Paul Miller at the December 1 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet gave members details of acquisitions and disposals in the first six months of the current financial year.

It included the purchase of 16 properties for council housing stock, to the tune of £3,470,000 and the disposal of two industrial estate plots at Waterloo, Pembroke Dock, at some £278,400.

Properties purchased are: 32 Southdown Close, Pembroke, at £115,000; 8 Hyfrydle, Letterston at £115,000; 6 Precelly Place, Milford Haven at £120,000; 50 Heywood Court, Tenby at £125,000; 33 Croft Avenue, Hakin at £130,000; 7 Hyfrydle, Letterston at £135,000; 18 St Clements Park, Freystrop at £140,000; 55 College Park, Neyland at £140,000; 26 Baring Gould Way, Haverfordwest at £146,000; 25 Station Road, Letterston at £170,000; 16 Woodlands Crescent, Milford Haven at £283,000; 26 & 27 Harcourt Close, Hook at £744,000; and 23, 24 And 25 Harcourt Close, Hook at £1,107,000.

Of the purchases, £1,851,000 is made up of five properties in Hook.

Members noted the report, Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Michelle Bateman saying the grants-supported acquisitions programme was “increasing the supply of tenancies across the county”.

Leader Cllr Jon Harvey praised “wizards in attracting grant aid” officer success in accessing funding, adding the purchases would not stop the council continuing to build new properties across the county.

Back in September, Cabinet members backed a recommendation to enter into an agreement for the acquisition of up to 16 new build housing units as an off the shelf deal at Harcourt Close, Hook.

The proposal was the second social housing scheme recommended for approval by members at that meeting; councillors having earlier backed a scheme for the purchase of 21 affordable homes, along with an option for four intermediate units on land at Sandyhill, Saundersfoot.