Let more of us live above shops

FRESH proposals to turn abovethe-shop premises into homes is to be published today.

Eoghan Murphy wants to use vacant commercial properties to tackle the housing crisis. These are part of ‘exempted development’ regulations to be laid before the Dáil today.

It is the first step in the approval process for bringing over-the-shop accommodation into the residential sector and means the change of use will not require planning permission.

The Housing Minister highlighted the importance of allowing a change of use for certain types of vacant buildings to bring them back into productive use.

He said: ‘These draft regulations, if approved by the Oireachtas, will allow the change of use of premises such as empty shops and over-the-shop type spaces to residential use, without the need for planning permission.

‘This will have the dual benefit of facilitating the bringing onstream of urgently-needed housing supply in high demand areas while breathing new life into inner-core urban areas.

‘The Government is fully committed to bringing as many vacant properties as possible back into use, maximising the use of existing resources.

‘These new regulations will make it easier for property owners to re-imagine the use of vacant and under-used buildings without having to go through planning.’

He added this is the first move in a series of measures to streamline the conversion of vacant spaces into homes.