Applications open for Economic Incentive Scheme (Ireland)

Deadline: 01-Jan-2027

The Waterford City & County Council Economic Incentive Scheme for Vacant Properties in Urban Areas provides grant support to new businesses seeking to occupy vacant commercial properties in city, town, and village centres across Waterford. The scheme is intended to attract new retail, service, and office businesses, increase footfall, diversify town-centre offerings, and strengthen local economic activity. The programme particularly encourages higher-order comparison retail, including fashion, lifestyle, flagship, niche, and specialist retailers.Certain business categories are generally excluded, although the Council may consider exceptions where a proposal demonstrates significant economic benefits and does not displace existing businesses. The scheme is operated by Waterford City & County Council to encourage businesses to take up vacant properties in established urban centres.

The initiative aims to:

Bring vacant commercial properties back into productive use. Encourage new retail, service, and office businesses. Strengthen city, town, and village centres. Increase the diversity of retail and commercial offerings. Improve the attractiveness of urban areas for shopping and leisure. Support increased footfall and economic activity. Enhance the overall vibrancy of Waterford’s urban centres. The scheme is aimed at new retail, service, and office-based businesses that intend to occupy qualifying vacant properties in Waterford’s city, town, and village centres.

Applicants should consider whether their:

Business activity falls within an eligible category. Proposed premises is a qualifying vacant property. Location is within a designated centre. Business contributes to the objectives of the scheme. Proposal provides a clear economic benefit to the area. The Council may, at its discretion, consider businesses located outside designated centres in exceptional circumstances. The scheme has a strong preference for higher-order comparison retail outlets. This includes businesses offering products or experiences that can attract customers specifically to the urban centre. Examples of encouraged retail categories include: Fashion retailers. Lifestyle retailers. Flagship stores. Niche retailers. Specialist retailers. Home furnishings. Beauty and cosmetics products. Jewellery. Bookshops. Artisan and craft businesses. Giftware and interiors. Specialist consumer products. Unique retail experiences. The Council’s emphasis on these categories reflects the objective of increasing the diversity and attractiveness of city, town, and village centres. The scheme identifies a range of business types that may be eligible.

Examples include:

Cosmetics and beauty product shops. Specialist health food shops. Shoe shops. Toy shops. High-end electronics retailers. Music shops. Hobby shops. Artisan and craft shops. Giftware and interiors businesses. Fashion businesses. Globally scaled high-end retail businesses. Shops offering distinctive or unique customer experiences. Eligibility ultimately depends on the specific proposal and the Council’s assessment under the scheme. Certain types of businesses are generally excluded from support.

These include:

Amusement arcades. Discount shops. Fast-food outlets. Mobile phone shops. Newsagents. Off-licences. Nightclubs. Head shops and grow shops. Vaping businesses. Adult shops. Hairdressers. Supermarkets. Being listed as generally ineligible does not necessarily mean that an application can never be considered. The Council may make exceptions where the proposal demonstrates significant economic benefit and does not result in displacement of existing businesses. Vacant commercial properties can reduce activity and footfall in urban centres. The Economic Incentive Scheme is designed to address this by encouraging businesses to occupy vacant premises and introduce new commercial activity.

The scheme can contribute to:

Reuse of vacant properties. Increased town-centre activity. Greater retail diversity. New shopping and leisure experiences. Increased customer footfall. Stronger local economic activity. More attractive city, town, and village centres. A key feature of the scheme is its preference for higher-order comparison retail. Comparison retail generally refers to purchases where customers compare products, brands, prices, features, or styles before making a purchase. Fashion. Specialist electronics. Books. Toys. Lifestyle products. Specialist and niche goods. The Council’s focus on these businesses is intended to strengthen the range and attractiveness of existing urban retail areas. The primary focus is on vacant properties located within city, town, and village centres across Waterford. The scheme is particularly concerned with designated urban centres and established retail areas. In exceptional circumstances, the Council may consider supporting a business located outside a designated centre. Such consideration is discretionary and depends on the circumstances of the individual proposal. Businesses interested in the scheme should first identify a suitable vacant property and determine whether both the property and proposed business activity align with the scheme.

The basic process involves:

Identify a vacant commercial property in a Waterford city, town, or village centre. Define the proposed business, including the products or services it will provide. Check the business category against the scheme’s eligible and generally ineligible activities. Assess the location, particularly whether the premises is within a designated centre. Demonstrate economic value, explaining how the business could contribute to footfall, retail diversity, employment, or the attractiveness of the centre. Consider displacement, particularly if the proposed business falls within a category that would normally be excluded. Prepare the application with the information required by Waterford City & County Council. Submit the proposal for Council assessment, recognizing that eligibili