Grant rules hampering housing delivery in towns – Murphy

The delivery of  housing in town centres is being impeded by eligibility rules governing the Vacant Property Refurbishment grant, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Michael Murphy said that eligibility rules governing the grant need to be reviewed and made fit-for-purpose.

Deputy Murphy explained: “The grant, which has been extended to bring vacant above-the-shop accommodation back into use, can currently only be paid to individual applicants. Companies, developers and delivery bodies are excluded.

“This restriction is increasingly at odds with the realities of town centre regeneration.

“There is enormous residential potential currently lying idle above shops in towns and cities across the country. However, many of these properties are owned by companies or form part of mixed-use buildings where individual ownership simply does not apply. The current rules are preventing viable projects from proceeding.

“Local authorities are currently receiving approximately 390 applications per month to refurbish vacant properties, with an 80% approval rate. This shows just how effective grants can be in driving down vacancy, but the eligibility criteria must be expanded so all appropriate properties can potentially be brought back into use.”

Deputy Murphy said the issue is not about favouring large developers, but about enabling delivery for individuals who are not in a position to take on complex or multi-unit refurbishment projects.

“If we are serious about Town Centre First, then our housing schemes must reflect how property is actually owned and developed in town centres. This is about scale, speed and practicality.

“We should be focused on outcomes. Every vacant unit brought back into use is a home delivered and a town centre strengthened. The rules should enable that, not stand in the way,” concluded Deputy Murphy.