House transformed as part of council’s affordable house project

It was an eyesore that was barely inhabitable – now it’s a smart home which will soon be ready to walk into.

Wyre Council purchased its first empty home as part of the Affordable Housing Delivery Programme (AHDP) in October 2024.

Works have been underway since then to create a beautiful three-bedroom “discount market” home whereby the purchaser will own 100 per cent of the property but only pay 80 per cent of its open market value.

The programme, approved by the council in summer last year, pledged that £1.4m of developer contributions from housing sites across Wyre would be ringfenced to deliver affordable housing in the borough.

The property is being fully renovated and, upon completion, will be put on the market as affordable housing.

So far, the renovation work includes 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 have been fitted to ensure the home is affordable and sustainable from the inside out.

Councillor Peter Le Marinel, portfolio holder for planning policy and economic development, said: “We are extremely proud to be able to offer this programme to our residents.

“This exciting initiative is ensuring empty, disused, or dilapidated properties are transformed into safe and energy-efficient homes for those in need.”

Director of communities Marianne Hesketh added: “This is an innovative way for the council to turn empty properties into homes for people who ordinarily may struggle to get a foot on the property ladder.

Wyre says there are multiple benefits to bringing an empty home back into use.

Empty homes can be a blot on the landscape and attract anti-social behaviour, so the council says that by transforming this property also improves the area for local people”

Applications will be accepted once the property has been valued.

Qualifying criteria

There will be a financial qualifying criteria and a local connection criteria for buyers.

These include:

*Applicants will be required to meet one (or more) of the local connection criteria, which include a requirement to have lived in the local authority of Wyre continuously for the last 12 months, as well as permanent employment of over 16 hours per week in Wyre.

*A close family association – such as a parent, adult child or adult sibling who has lived in the area of Wyre for the last five years.

*Currently serving in the Armed Forces and who are either employed or are resident in Wyre.

*Former Armed Forces personnel who has a previous residence in Wyre as a result of a former posting in the area of Wyre within the last five years.

Once renovation works are complete and the property has been valued, Wyre Council will be able to provide more information on the financial criteria.

To sign up to the council’s discount market homes for sale newsletter and to receive notifications for the opening of the application process for this property and future houses, visit https://www.wyre.gov.uk/housing-options-homelessness/affordable-home-ownership/3.

Anyone who wants to have an informal discussion about this property before completing an application, please contact the Civic Centre on 01253 891000. All applications are considered in strict date order.