Wyre Council marks Empty Homes Week by bringing properties back into use

Wyre Council are marking Empty Homes Week by highlighting the progress being made to bring vacant properties back into use and help meet growing local housing demand.

Between 9 March – 15 March, Empty Homes Week shines a spotlight on the importance of tackling long‑term empty properties, an issue affecting communities across the country.

Over the past year, Wyre Council has identified 1,068 empty properties across the borough, 273 of which are long-term empty for over 6 months.

As part of the Affordable Housing Delivery programme, Wyre Council purchased its first empty home in December 2024. Following a full renovation, the property was sold as affordable housing in September 2025.

Works included a full re-wire, internal plastering throughout, front and rear garden clearance, installation of a new kitchen and bathroom plus replacement of all internal doors. Green initiatives such as solar panels and cavity wall insulation were fitted to ensure affordability and sustainability long term from the inside out.

The second empty home in the portfolio was purchased early 2026 with works scheduled for Spring

Councillor Le Marinel, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy & Economic Development said: “We are extremely proud to be able to offer this programme to our residents. This initiative is a way for the Council to turn empty properties into homes for people who ordinarily may struggle to get a foot on the property ladder.”

Bringing an empty home back into use provides a multitude of benefits to the community. Empty homes can be a blot on the landscape and attract anti-social behaviour, so by transforming empty homes, much-needed affordable homes are brought back to market for local people.

Director of Communities, Marianne Hesketh added: “Empty Homes Week is an important reminder that every unused property represents a lost opportunity for a family, for a neighbourhood, and for our wider community.

‘’We’re committed to working with owners to bring these homes back into use and ensure they contribute positively to Wyre.

‘’Wyre Council has recently appointed a new Empty and Affordable Homes Officer to help identify, acquire and restore more empty homes across the borough, strengthening the council’s capacity to deliver long‑term housing solutions and supporting the People and Communities priority within the 2026–2028 Council Plan.’’

Owners of empty properties are encouraged to contact the Empty Homes Team for free advice and support.

For more information or to report an empty property, please visit www.wyre.gov.uk/homes-council-tax/empty-homes-1 or email laura.davenport@wyre.gov.uk

Visit www.wyre.gov.uk/affordable for information on affordable housing in Wyre.