Minister Ritchie secures £0.5million to continue Living Over the Shop initiative

Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie has announced that she has moved to secure funding for the Living Over the Shop Scheme (LOTS) in 2009/10.

The Minister made the announcement after a meeting with a delegation from local government’s body, Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) yesterday. The scheme helps to breathe new life and vitality into town centres by re-using under-used retail space for housing.

Margaret Ritchie said: “This is an enormous boost for this scheme, when it looked like it could not continue being funded because of budget pressures from within the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I view the LOTS scheme as an important tool in revitalising towns and cities and one which I have already decided to move to the new Councils in 2011. By making this funding available it will also ensure that much needed housing requirements are addressed."

Up to now, funding for LOTS has been administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. This funding pot is under enormous pressure and the LOTS scheme, which is primarily about urban regeneration, was in danger of missing out. Budget from within the Urban Development Grant has been secured to continue with this scheme.

Margaret Ritchie continued: “My number one priority, is social and affordable housing. By making this investment, I have protected this while, at the same time revitalising and regenerating under-used areas in towns and cities across Northern Ireland.”

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