He said that LOTS provides grant funding to encourage town centre property owners to renovate vacant or underused buildings into apartments, leaving the ground floor for commercial use. Since 2006, LOTS funding in Cookstown has brought nine town centre properties, with 23 apartments above, back into use.
A further six buildings with nine new homes are at various stages of development.
Mr Attwood said: "This is a very good initiative that brings life back into town centres. LOTS brings together my department's regeneration and housing objectives in a way that aims to revitalise town centre areas.
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"Many town centres are seen as places which have too many empty buildings and which are only alive during shopping hours. At the same time more and more people want to live in central locations."
The Town Centre Living Initiative is an integral part of Cookstown Town Centre Regeneration Strategy. It is led by Cookstown District Council in conjunction with Cookstown Town Centre Forum and the NI Housing Executive.
Minister Attwood continued: "Cookstown is a real success story where public and private finance have combined to outstanding effect. Cookstown District Council, the Town Centre Forum and the Housing Executive are to be congratulated for their leadership roles.
"But in particular, I want to pay tribute to all those property owners, including Sean MacMahon and Dessie Bell who are here today, for participating in the scheme. Central Government alone cannot deliver all the actions required. I welcome the partnership approach that has proved successful here."
"Through significant investment by Council and others, strong leadership and partnership with key stakeholders, a wide variety of initiatives have been effectively delivered with very positive outcomes."
(CD/BMcC)
