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The government is set to approve £22 million worth of funding to tackle empty homes in London.

The money is part of national targeted funding stream allocations announced as Inside Housing went to press. The Greater London Authority recommended that London councils be given £22 million of the capital’s £87 million allocation for 2009/10 to bring empty homes back into use.

A Communities and Local Government department spokesperson confirmed that it had approved grant allocations to local authorities for private sector renewal and that these were ‘in line with recommendations made by regional assemblies and the mayor of London’.

The announcement comes after the Greater London Authority wrote to the CLG last week urging it to approve the deal.

The letter criticised what it called an ‘inexplicable delay’ that was holding up deals due to start in April.

GLA director of housing Richard Blakeway said mayor Boris Johnson had not received official confirmation of the funding, but that it was ‘excellent news’.

‘It will be critical to delivering the mayor’s commitment that only 1 per cent of the stock should be unoccupied long term,’ Mr Blakeway said. ‘This vital investment will give a much needed boost to the construction industry during this difficult time.’

A spokesperson for London Councils said leaders wrote to housing minister Margaret Beckett in December asking her to approve the allocations as soon as possible.