Title

HOUSING

Turn empty buildings into affordable housing, MPs say

MPs have called on ministers to turn empty buildings into affordable housing after a report found repurposing properties could create thousands of new homes.

MPs have called on ministers to turn empty buildings into affordable housing after a report found repurposing properties could create thousands of new homes.

The report, which was published following an inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Housing Market and Delivery and the APPG for Ending Homelessness, found 20,000 homes could be created from empty local authority buildings alone.

It also found there was potential for repurposing commercial properties, with 14% of retail unit space and 7% of office space currently vacant.

Chair of the APPG for Housing Market and Delivery, Ben Everitt, said local authorities should be required to report on vacant buildings in their areas.

HOUSING

Dear secretary of state - part 1

By Dr Simon Kaye | 30 September 2025

Secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Steve Reed, has a lot on his plate since assuming the role last month. Here, Re:State’s Sim...

HOUSING

When it comes to new towns, smart has trumped brave

By Jackie Sadek | 29 September 2025

The report from the independent New Towns Taskforce is a plan that might actually work, 'and local communities need to be incentivised to absorb these levels...

HOUSING

New towns, new leaders

By Luca Wells | 25 September 2025

With a lot of initiatives being pushed through government, the strain on local authorities is increasing. So now is the time to audit leadership capability, ...

HOUSING

Institutional capital unlocking UK regeneration

By Tom Roberts | 19 September 2025

There is no lack of vision when it comes to local authority regeneration projects but they are often stymied by economic reality. Tom Roberts suggests the an...

Popular articles by Ellie Ames