HOMES valued at up to $2 million each grabbed by the state government to make way for WestConnex have stood empty for more than two years after plans for the motorway changed.

Now neighbours fear that Roads and Maritime Services will sell the Concord properties to developers to build apartments or townhouses on the backstreets.

Locals are urging the government to ensure the “ghost houses”, which include 90-year-old Californian bungalows, are sold to families or become affordable housing for key community workers such as nurses and fire fighters.

Daly Ave resident Paul Abela said: “We just want our neighbours back.”

media_camera A house on Franklyn St, Concord that was bought up by RMS, but left empty after plans for WestConnex were changed. Picture: Craig Wilson

A total of five houses in Daly Ave and Franklyn St, lie empty along with one house in nearby Lloyd George Ave. Seven other houses have been rented out to tenants.

media_camera Lace curtains still hang in an abandoned home in Franklyn St. Picture: Craig Wilson

All 13 homes were voluntarily acquired between late 2013 and January 2015 after owners were told they could be demolished for an exit ramp from the WestConnex New M4 to Parramatta Rd.

But the plans changed in June 2015 and the houses were spared.

Since then the government has maintained the abandoned homes. Lawns are regularly mowed, hedges and shrubs trimmed and a private security firm hired to keep trespassers out.

The power has been cut off and junk mail bulges out of letterboxes. One front garden still has its garden gnome. Lace curtains still hang in the windows of another home.

Mr Abela, who has lived in Daly Ave for 31 years, said locals were worried the properties could be rezoned and then sold to developers.

“There are concerns there could be overdevelopment here and we’ll have a block of flats on the street,” he said.

“This is not a whole community anymore. We want our neighbourhood back the way it was.”

Another Daly Ave resident, Dave Warren, said the houses should be immediately sold to families.

media_camera Dave Warren outside empty homes in Franklyn St, Concord. Picture: Craig Wilson

Opposition Roads spokeswoman and MP for Strathfield Jodi McKay, said the government was wasting money maintaining houses that could be available to people looking for homes.

“The government has hollowed out this community,” Ms McKay said.

“Now there is property worth millions of dollars sitting there when we have a housing crisis.”

The government has said that all properties purchased for WestConnex, that end up not being used, would be returned to the community.

media_camera A homes on Daly Ave, Concord, left empty after being bought by RMS, still has its lawn mowed and shrubs trimmed. Picture: Craig Wilson

A RMS spokesman said that under the New M4 preliminary concept design in November 2013, some property owners were offered voluntary acquisitions.

The six vacant properties could not be leased until it was confirmed they were not required for the project for ancillary purposes such as site offices.

“Seven properties have since been leased to private tenants and the six remaining properties will be leased in the coming months,” the spokesman said.