Dundalk and Drogheda have been formally included in the Living City Initiative following an announcement by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris.
Louth County Council has welcomed the designation, which sees both towns recognised as Special Regeneration Areas under the scheme.
The move means that property owners in designated parts of Dundalk and Drogheda can now apply for tax reliefs to refurbish or convert residential and commercial buildings. This includes the conversion of vacant upper floors and over the shop premises into homes.
The Living City Initiative is a long established regeneration programme already operating in cities such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Its aim is to revitalise town and city centres by addressing vacancy and underuse of buildings.
The Special Regeneration Areas identified by Louth County Council in both towns focus on locations with high levels of long term vacancy, ageing building stock and strong potential for redevelopment. Property owners within these areas can apply for tax relief once they meet the required criteria.
The initiative is designed to support more people living in town centres, encourage compact growth and promote the sustainable reuse of existing buildings in line with national planning and housing policies.
Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said: “The designation of Dundalk and Drogheda under the Living City Initiative is a very significant moment for our county and for our town centres.
“This scheme recognises that the future of vibrant, sustainable communities lies in reusing the historic buildings, main streets and urban cores in both towns, and it will help restore activity, pride and confidence in areas that have enormous potential.
“Louth County Council looks forward to working with residents, property owners and businesses to ensure that this opportunity delivers lasting social, economic and cultural benefits for both Dundalk and Drogheda.”
Cllr Robert Nash, Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District, said: “Dundalk has a strong historic core and main street network, and despite the great work that has been carried out over the last decade, there are still issues related to long‑term vacancy and under‑use. This initiative gives us a real opportunity to bring investment back into existing buildings and encourage people to live and work in the heart of the town.
“The Living City Initiative aligns closely with our ambitions for compact growth and sustainable town‑centre living, and Louth County Council will work closely with property owners, businesses and the local community to ensure Dundalk fully benefits from this designation.”
Cllr Michelle Hall, the Mayor of Drogheda, said: “The inclusion of Drogheda in the Living City Initiative is a hugely positive step for our town. Drogheda has a rich built heritage and enormous potential in its town centre, and this initiative will help unlock that by supporting the reuse of vacant and under‑utilised buildings for homes, businesses and community activity.
“Creating a vibrant place where people want to put down roots is central to revitalising our town centre, and the Living City Initiative will play an important role in supporting that vision for Drogheda.”
David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said: “The Living City Initiative presents a significant opportunity for owners to bring properties back into productive use while contributing to the wider regeneration of both Dundalk and Drogheda town centres.
“We would appeal to private owners of vacant and under‑utilised properties within the designated Special Regeneration Areas to actively engage with the programme and consider availing of the supports now available.”
Louth County Council will work closely with the Department of Finance, Revenue Commissioners, local businesses and communities to support the successful implementation of the initiative in Dundalk and Drogheda.
The maps of the SRAs in Dundalk and Drogheda are available here.
