New £31m investment to bring empty homes back into use and unlock housing growth

Credit: Onclusive News

More than £31 million is set to be invested by the Mayor of the East Midlands to create more homes, bring empty properties back into use and support the regeneration of communities across the region.

The proposals include £30m for a new Housing and Regeneration Fund and £1.6m to bring empty homes back into use and help tackle homelessness. Together, the two funds would help tackle housing shortages, improve neighbourhoods and support people who need a safe and secure place to live.

They will now go before members of the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s (EMCCA) Investment Committee for approval at their next meeting on 29 June.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “Everyone deserves a safe, secure place to call home. These programmes are about making the most of the homes and land we already have, while creating new opportunities for people and communities across the East Midlands.

“By bringing empty properties back into use and helping unlock new housing developments, we can provide more homes for local people, improve neighbourhoods, and support efforts to prevent homelessness.”

The Empty Homes Fund will support a range of pilot projects to find the best ways of bringing long-term empty properties back into use.

Empty homes can often become run down and attract anti-social behaviour, affecting local communities. Bringing these properties back into use will provide more affordable homes for local people while improving the appearance and safety of neighbourhoods.

The programme will also support efforts to prevent homelessness by increasing the number of homes available to people who need them.

Alongside this, the proposed Housing and Regeneration Fund would help unlock sites that have struggled to move forward, supporting the development of new homes and the renewal of underused land and buildings.

The fund would provide loans to help get projects off the ground, supporting work such as preparing sites, building infrastructure, and starting construction. As loans are repaid, the money will be reinvested into future projects, helping more communities benefit over time.

These programmes will be funded through the recently announced Local Growth Fund. This new £107m fund is providing investment for programmes focused on business growth, employment and skills, infrastructure, regeneration, innovation, and community resilience from 2026-30.

The proposals build on EMCCA’s wider work to increase housing across the region. Earlier this year, Mayor Claire secured a further £57m to unlock thousands of new homes on brownfield sites, while local councils have been working together to strengthen support for people experiencing homelessness.

Mayor Claire said: “These new projects build on the work we’re already doing to deliver new homes on brownfield sites and work with councils to support vulnerable residents. Together, these investments can help ensure more people have access to the homes they need and the opportunities they deserve.”

If approved, the plans for each project will then be reviewed by EMCCA to ensure they are suitable for investment.