On 3 November, the council’s 2026 Vacant and Derelict Land and Property Strategy annual review will go before the Economy and Infrastructure Committee.

The review shows that no new sites have been identified for inclusion on the council’s Vacant and Derelict Land Register in 2026, while four sites are being removed after redevelopment or progress towards long-term reuse, and another site is decreasing in area after partial development. 

Park Place in Lockerbie, where the former creamery site has been redeveloped for housing; the former gasworks at Marle Street in Castle Douglas, which is being remediated and redeveloped for industrial use; a former mill building at Drummore being brought back into use for housing; and Ministers Merse in Annan, which is being developed as part of the Annan Harbour regeneration project, are among the sites being removed. 

The amount of registered vacant and derelict land in Dumfries and Galloway has decreased from 738 hectares to 734 hectares. 

Additionally, there are 21 development proposals at different stages affecting registered vacant and derelict sites, prompting the possibility for additional sites or parts of sites to be brought back into productive use. 

Nearly £2 million from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund has been secured for two affordable housing projects. 

These are proposals for seven Mid-Market Rent flats at 130-132 High Street in Dumfries as well as seven community-led affordable homes at the former Woodside Garage in Gatehouse of Fleet. 

An offer of up to £200,000 from the Scottish Government in financial year 2026/27 to support the council’s Empty Homeowner Grant Scheme has also been mentioned in the report. 

Grants of up to £20,000 per property can support repair, renovation and energy-efficiency work, with properties supported through the development required to come back into use as affordable housing for a minimum of five years.

Councillor Andy Ferguson, chair of the council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “This is about much more than taking sites off a register. 

“Reusing existing land and buildings can create new homes, support regeneration and improve places for the people who live there.”

Ferguson added: “There remains more work to do, but this report demonstrates real progress across the region.”

Councillor Tony Berretti, the vice-chair, said: “Some of the most encouraging examples in this report are where previously unused land and buildings are creating opportunities for housing and regeneration.

“As we bring empty properties back into use, we must also keep our Council Plan commitment to addressing climate change and protecting communities from its impacts firmly in view.”

Berretti added: “The offer of additional funding to help bring long-term empty homes back into use is also welcome.”