Chambers Ireland has welcomed the Tánaiste’s decision to extend the Living City Initiative to Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo, describing it as a positive step for town centre regeneration and housing delivery.
The re-designation allows property owners in newly approved Special Regeneration Areas to access tax reliefs to refurbish and repurpose vacant and under used buildings, including new “Living Over the Shop” supports introduced in Budget 2026.
Speaking following the announcement, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, said:
“The extension of the Living City Initiative to Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo is a welcome and timely intervention that can support town centre renewal, stimulate local investment and facilitate the delivery of much needed housing.
“The ability to refurbish and repurpose existing buildings particularly through ‘living over the shop’ conversions is critical to revitalising our main streets. This is turn supports local businesses and helps to create lived in, vibrant town centres.
“We have consistently highlighted the importance of aligning regeneration incentives with housing delivery and economic development at local level, and this announcement represents meaningful progress in that direction.”