Over-the-shop grant could be ‘gamechanger’ for housing in Tipperary
Funding to turn vacant properties over shops into homes will be a “gamechanger” for Tipperary, said a local councillor.
At the March meeting of the Clonmel Borough District, Fianna Fáil councillor Siobhán Ambrose said that the Over the Shop Grant could see new homes created in Clonmel and throughout Tipperary.
The grant is an extension of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, and applicants can get up to €140,000 in funding if they create three or more homes above a shop. A grant of €95,000 is available to people who want to create one apartment or house over a commercial building.
At the Clonmel district meeting, Cllr Ambrose said that it’s awful to see so much darkness above commercial units in town centres at night, and that the scheme could transform underused town-centre spaces.
"I think the over-shop grant is going to be phenomenal in terms of moving on accommodation.
"If you look around every town, and every village, and every city, particularly at night, all in darkness, and I think that grant’s ability to provide accommodation will be a gamechanger,” she said.
"€140,000 for up to three units – I mean, that’s really positive and I think that’s really going to help us move on to help people to get accommodation,” she added.
Asking the borough district for an update, Cllr Ambrose asked if there was any further information available on the proposed grant scheme at this month’s meeting.
“Have we any further information on the grant?” she asked.
Responding to Cllr Ambrose’s queries, district administrator Carol Creighton said that there was no further updates on the scheme.