PROPERTY owners in Antrim town centre are being offered the opportunity to advantage of available grants under a new town centre living initiative, known as Living Over the Shop (LOTS).
The aim of LOTS is to encourage the growth of private rented residential accommodation over commercial buildings.
The scheme offers a cost effective means of accommodating additional housing in Antrim town centre and this, in turn, should generate
many social and economic benefits to enhance the vitality and viability of the town.
Karen Brown, Antrim Borough Councils Development Manager for Regeneration & Enterprise, said: “In July 2007 Antrim Borough Council submitted a bid to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) for Town Centre Living Initiative Area (TCLIA) status. The council received notification that the bid was successful and that TCLIA status has been awarded from January 1 2008, for a period of five years.
“LOTS offers an exciting opportunity for Antrim town centre, where there are a number of properties which could be eligible for conversion grants. Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, experience has clearly shown that increasing the number of people living in a town centre boosts demand for more shopping and attractions, including restaurants and other forms of evening entertainment.
“LOTS is managed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and offers property owners the chance to apply for substantial grant assistance towards eligible costs. The Housing Executive can offer grants of up to 75 per cent of the cost of eligible expenses up to a maximum of £25,000 where one flat or house is created or £30,000 where there is more than one flat.”
Owners of property in Antrim town centre who are interested in finding out more about the scheme should contact Karen Brown, Antrim Borough Council on 9446 3113 or email karen.brown@antrim.gov.uk
The full article contains 308 words and appears in Antrim Times newspaper.
