Ireland Offers Up to €135,000 Grant for Converting Vacant Above-Shop Spaces into Homes
Ireland launched a grant scheme offering up to €135,000 to convert vacant above-shop spaces into housing, aiming to address the housing crisis. This initiative could transform thousands of empty premises, with an estimated 30,000 properties convertible over six years. The scheme is vital for revitalizing town centers and making conversions financially viable for property owners.
The Irish Government introduced a scheme offering grants up to €135,000 to convert vacant above-shop spaces into housing units, a move seen as potentially more significant than allowing back garden cabins. This initiative aims to address the housing crisis by revitalizing tens of thousands of empty premises, a common sight since the shift to suburban living and shopping centers in the 1960s and 70s.
The grant structure provides up to €95,000 for one unit, €115,000 for two, and €135,000 for three or more units, plus an additional €5,000 for expert advice. The ground floor must remain commercial. Martin Markey, CEO of Hardware Association Ireland (HAI), estimates 30,000 properties could be converted over six years. A HAI survey found 16% of above-shop buildings are completely empty, and over half have empty upper floors.
Dublin City Council suggests converting commercial and above-shop spaces could meet up to 40% of its housing targets, creating 16,000 homes. Many conversions may proceed without planning permission under the new Development Act, speeding up the process. This scheme mirrors the successful vacant properties refurbishment grant, which has disbursed €112 million, bringing over 2,000 properties back into use since 2022, with Donegal County Council being the most successful per capita.
Minister for Housing James Browne emphasized the need to unlock housing in response to the crisis. Ciara O’Neill, a coffee shop owner in Oldcastle, Co Meath, plans to convert a derelict Kells property into a coffee shop with two two-bedroom apartments, stating the grants make the project viable. Kore Retrofit consultant Maggie McGahan noted additional grants up to €25,000 from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are available for energy upgrades. While protected structures may incur higher costs, the scheme is generating significant interest among property owners.