The council's 2026 Vacant and Derelict Land and Property Strategy annual review will go before the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday 3 November.
The review shows that no new sites have been identified for inclusion on the council's Vacant and Derelict Land Register this year, while four sites are being removed following redevelopment or progress towards long-term reuse, and a further site is reducing in area following partial development.
Sites being removed include 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.
The total amount of registered vacant and derelict land in Dumfries and Galloway has reduced from 738 hectares to 734 hectares.
There are also 21 development proposals at different stages affecting registered vacant and derelict sites, creating the potential for further sites or parts of sites to be brought back into productive use.
Two affordable housing projects have secured almost £2 million from the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. These are proposals for seven Mid-Market Rent flats at 130-132 High Street in Dumfries and seven community-led affordable homes at the former Woodside Garage in Gatehouse of Fleet.
The report also highlights 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.
Grants of up to £20,000 per property can support repair, renovation and energy-efficiency work, with properties supported through the scheme required to come back into use as affordable housing for at least five years.
Chair of the council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Andy Ferguson, said:
"Vacant and derelict sites can have a significant impact on communities, so it is positive to see tangible progress in bringing land and buildings back into productive use.
"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. There remains more work to do, but this report demonstrates real progress across the region."
Vice-Chair, Councillor Tony Berretti, 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.
"The offer of additional funding to help bring long-term empty homes back into use is also welcome. Making better use of properties that already exist can help tackle empty homes while increasing the supply of affordable housing in our communities."