Repurposing Empty Spaces - Addressing the Housing Crisis Across England, Scotland and Wales in 2025

The report titled "Repurposing Empty Spaces - Addressing the Housing Crisis Across England, Scotland and Wales in 2025" was commissioned by Habitat for Humanity Great Britain and produced by the Empty Homes Network. It aims to tackle the pressing housing crisis in the UK by exploring the potential of repurposing vacant and underused buildings, particularly those in public ownership, to create affordable housing. The report highlights a growing recognition that addressing housing needs requires innovative solutions, especially in a landscape marked by rising homelessness and inadequate social housing supply.

As of March 2025, over 131,000 households in England were living in temporary accommodation, including more than 169,000 children. The report indicates that thousands of vacant commercial buildings are available for repurposing, with the potential to create over 25,000 new homes by converting these underutilized assets. The estimated number of vacant local authority-owned properties rose significantly, illustrating a critical opportunity for local authorities to address housing needs using existing resources.

The research emphasizes that repurposing empty buildings can provide immediate and socially beneficial interventions to the housing crisis. It finds that more than 175,000 privately owned empty non-residential buildings exist in England alone, which could potentially yield over 500,000 homes. The report discusses the importance of local authority leadership, access to capital funding, and cross-departmental coordination for successful projects. Examples of successful repurposing include former police stations, care homes, and schools being transformed into affordable housing, showcasing the diverse potential of vacant spaces.

The report underscores regional disparities in vacancy rates across the UK, with significant increases noted in England (30%), Scotland (18%), and Wales (44%). It highlights that while commercial vacancy is rising, the drivers of empty space vary across regions, influenced by factors such as changes in working patterns post-COVID and cuts to public services. For example, areas in Wales have seen a notable shift from retail to office and leisure voids, necessitating tailored responses to local housing needs.

The report calls for a national strategy that treats vacant commercial premises as integral to housing policy, aligning housing, planning, and climate objectives. It emphasizes the need for better data transparency on publicly-owned properties and recommends that central government support local authorities in identifying and repurposing underused buildings. Furthermore, it proposes the establishment of dedicated funding programs to unlock the potential of smaller, underused commercial spaces for social and community-led housing initiatives.

Overall, the report serves as a call to action for policymakers, practitioners, and community organizations to collaborate in repurposing empty spaces into homes. It articulates a clear vision for utilizing existing buildings to meet housing demands sustainably while revitalizing communities and supporting local economies. By shifting focus from new builds to the potential of existing structures, the report advocates for a more integrated approach to addressing the housing crisis across the UK.