Regeneration of unused local properties gets major boost

Representatives from the local business community, community groups and public representatives have broadly welcomed the extension of the Living City Initiative to Athlone.

The scheme, which supports the regeneration of older housing and commercial buildings, now includes Athlone, along with four other regional growth centres, having been previously confined to cities.

Athlone's inclusion in the scheme, which provides financial incentives to encourage investment and bring derelict, vacant or underused properties back into use, was announced as part of Budget 2026,

The initiative, which will now run until December 31, 2030, has also been expanded to cover properties built before 1975 with dedicated tax relief introduced for the conversion of commercial properties into residential use, including ‘over the shop’ premises.

It allows tax relief for money spent on refurbishing, or converting, residential or commercial properties in Special Regeneration Areas (SRA) within the qualifying cities and towns. These include owner-occupier residential relief, rented residential relief and commercial relief.

Connaught Street Traders and Environs community group vice-chairperson Tim Dowling, welcomed the announcement, stating that all scheme regeneration measures were to be "positively" received.

The Connaught Street group, established in May 2023, wants to bring what was once a vibrant street, with a mix of retail and residential, back to life, tackling dereliction, bringing the streetscape up-to-date and creating a community hub for all those that the Connaught Street area serves.

"As a community group we broadly welcome the Living City Initiative introduced as part of Budget 2026. Any measures which support the regeneration of properties for business and residential use must be welcomed," Mr Dowling said.

With its potential to boost the residential and business traction in the area, the vice-chairperson said it was vital that the "historic fabric" of the street and its environs remained in place.

"Our welcome of the initiative comes with a small caveat attached. All associated measures must be handled carefully and fine-tuned to meet regeneration needs in a local context. Connaught Street is not a sterile environment. We have a historic mix of business and residential use and under this proposed initiative, this blend must be sustained and enhanced in the community," Mr Dowling said.

The Connaught Street Traders and Environs Group have their aspirations for their area and while the Living City Initiative may feed into their regeneration plans, the vice-chairperson stated that Westmeath County Council must also manage its "design and implementation" in such a manner that benefits and does not detract from the blended environment.

Mersus Technology CEO Geoffrey Allen said the Living City Initiative announcement was a "positive" development for the town.

Mersus Technology is a leading player in the immersive technology space and is based at Inish Carraig Business Centre in Golden Island.

The company was established by Allen in 2018, the CEO having a desire to work in the town of which he is a native. "It is very important for me to operate my business in Athlone. Athlone has been good to me so all measures which are introduced to better the town have to be welcome," Geoffrey said.

The CEO said that dereliction is a major issue on the town's main thoroughfare, while Connaught Street is suffering from a similar fate.

"I can think of 12 properties along Sean Costello Street and Church Street which are derelict and are in need of regeneration. The town's main thoroughfare is extremely quiet, particularly at peak hours. This shouldn't be the case," Geoff said.

With housing being such an issue, Geoff believes that commercial properties not in use should be converted into residential units.

"Families are in drastic need of homes in which to live and this could be an opportunity to accommodate and reduce numbers on the housing waiting list. Availing of this particular opportunity will also bring a sense of vibrancy and community to the areas impacted. Those who own such derelict properties should also be willing to commit to the Living City Initiative considering the potential financial measures of the scheme," Geoff added.

OPW Minister of State, Deputy Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, said the extension of the Living City Initiative to Athlone "marked a significant step in the Government's commitment to revitalising regional centres and breathing new life into our urban centres. By broadening eligibility and introducing new reliefs, we are empowering homeowners, businesses, and communities to invest in sustainable regeneration.”

“This is about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about restoring vibrancy, supporting housing supply, and making our towns places where people want to live, work, and raise families. I look forward to working with local authorities to ensure the scheme is implemented effectively and delivers real impact on the ground," Minister Moran said.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Athlone/Moate Municipal District, Cllr Vinny McCormack, said Athlone's inclusion would "rejuvenate key areas that have long been the heart of the community.”

“This is a significant and positive development for Athlone. Inclusion in the Living City Initiative will breathe new life into Athlone’s historic town centre and encourage future investment

“Athlone is a dynamic regional hub, a regional growth centre with a proud history and a bright future. This initiative aligns perfectly with our vision for a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive town centre that attracts visitors, and enterprises alike, whilst also being a welcoming place to live.”

The Mayor also acknowledged the collaborative effort that made this inclusion possible, thanking local councillors, community groups, and national representatives for their ongoing advocacy.

“As a council, we will ensure this opportunity delivers real and lasting benefits for the town. This is a win for the people of Athlone," Mayor McCormack said.

Echoing these sentiments, Cllr Frankie Keena said the Living City Initiative "is a major vote of confidence" in Athlone as a regional growth centre. "This should inject new life and vibrancy back on to our town’s historic streets," Cllr Keena said.

The councillor stated that Special Regeneration Areas (SRAs), to which the Living City Initiative applies, will now need to be identified and mapped by Westmeath County Council.

"We need to work on identifying such SRAs in Athlone as soon as possible. We must give property owners a chance as there's only a five-year window before the extension end date of December 2030," Cllr Keena added.