The Minister for Social Development is to make more funding available for Town Centre Living Initiative Areas, which includes Dungannon town Centre.

The LOTS (Living Over The Shops) Scheme has been available to property owners since January 2006 and seven schemes have been completed to date using grant aid from the Housing Executive.

Now the Minister, Margaret Richie, has announced £440,000 additional funding for the scheme in 2010/2011.
The funding will allow the scheme to continue up under the proposed transfer of the functional to Councils under RPA.

Local shop owners are being encouraged to avail of the LOTS scheme to benefit Dungannon town centre.
Lots is intended to encourage people to live in properties over shops in certain areas of town centre regeneration. This grant scheme covers any works carried out in order to make properties over shops fit to live in and, in the case of most flats, fit for the number of people who live there.

Landlords can be given a grant 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.
Owner occupiers can receive up to £25,000 but will be subject to a means test.

Only properties within designated Town Centre Living Initiative Area boundaries are eligible.

Work which can be grant aided includes:
 new and improved kitchen.
 new and improved bathrooms.
 re-wiring and re-plumbing.
 fire alarm system (where there is more than one flat.
 repairs to, or replacement or, roofs, doors, windows, chimneys.

Source: Tyrone Courier
Date: Wednesday 27th January 2010