Wyre Council bringing vacant properties back into use to help meet rising demand for housing
Wyre Council is working to bring vacant properties back into use and help meet rising demand for housing across the borough.
Over the past year, Wyre Council has identified 1,068 empty homes in the borough, including 273 that have been vacant for more than six months. Running from 9 to 15 March, Empty Homes Week aims to raise awareness of the impact these long-term empty properties can have on communities in need of more housing.
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As part of its Affordable Housing Delivery programme, the council purchased its first empty property in December 2024. After undergoing a full renovation, the home was sold as affordable housing in September 2025.
The refurbishment included a complete rewire, internal plastering throughout, clearance of the front and rear gardens, installation of a new kitchen and bathroom, and the replacement of all internal doors.
Energy-efficiency measures were also introduced, including solar panels and cavity wall insulation, to support long-term affordability and sustainability. A second empty property was added to the council’s portfolio in early 2026, with renovation work scheduled to begin in the spring.
“We are extremely proud to be able to offer this programme to our residents,” said Councillor Le Marinel, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy & Economic Development. “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.