Living Over The Shops Programme

Eligibility criteria

Applications are invited from eligible property owners Crumlin and Glengormley town centres for renovations to their buildings.

Eligible projects include

• projects within the defined town centres
• vacant or underutilised upper floor premises above a commercial space

Eligible Expenditure

Only costs including the renovation and repurposing of vacant or underutilised premises will be eligible for up to 75% funding. Minor enhancements and larger scale renovation projects to upper floor premises above commercial units will be considered.

Eligible costs may include

• Non-recoverable VAT
• Construction works as required for the delivery of the project, including but not
  limited to
  • Installation of kitchen and bathroom facilities
  • Floors/walls/roofing – building fabric
  • Painting and decorating
  • Access improvements
  • Wiring and lighting
  • Plumbing
  • Installation/upgrade heating system
  • Repairs and replacement of doors and windows
  • Cavity wall and loft insulation
  • Damp proofing

Additional information

The Living Over The Shops (LOTS) scheme is open to premises located in Crumlin and Glengormley town centres.

The LOTS scheme is being funded by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, and will offer selective grant assistance to eligible property owners and/or occupiers to renovate or re-purpose a vacant or under-utilised upper floor space within town centres across the Borough for conversion to primary residential use.

The overall aims of the LOTS scheme are to

• Help promote the re-population of town centres, contributing to increased footfall and custom
• Reduce the number of vacant or underutilised premises
• Increase housing stock and tenancy options for all budgets
• Reduce dependency on private transport, contributing to sustainability targets
• Improve the animation of town centres to encourage people to visit, work and live in the town centres

Funding

The LOTS grant will cover up to 75% of the eligible costs for each individual property up to a maximum, depending on whether the project is classed as Tier 1 or Tier 2. 

The grant rate will depend on the number of units being created, the number of bedrooms in each unit and the total eligible project costs. 

Applicants must demonstrate a minimum contribution of 25% of the overall eligible project costs. 

A two-tiered grant rate will apply where a single unit is being converted, as follows

• Tier 1 conversion to a 1-bedroom unit – maximum grant of £35,000 (75% rate)
• Tier 2 conversion to a 2-bedroom or more unit – maximum grant of £50,000 (75% rate)