Hugh Wallace calls for an increase to Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant [Video]

Architect and TV presenter Hugh Wallace has urged the Government to increase the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant in the upcoming budget.

Wallace emphasized the pressing need to revitalize the country’s neglected buildings, as he nears completion of energy upgrades on his own restoration project in Dublin 8.

“There are over a quarter of a million derelict properties across the country waiting to be refurbished,” he said.

“That’s the equivalent of two-and-a-half years of housing supply.

“The current Vacant Property Grant, which offers up to €70,000, is fantastic, but increasing it to around €100,000 would make these projects far more accessible for homeowners.”

Wallace’s own experience with restoring a derelict 1890s house near Portobello, which he purchased with his husband Martin Corbett in 2022, was challenging.

Although they had planned to move in 18 months ago, delays due to a lengthy planning process, unforeseen structural issues, and the complex task of rewiring the street’s utilities made progress difficult, especially on a site with 100% coverage.

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