If you are a landlord who owns a property in the Adelaide City Council and your building is empty, partially tenanted, a state heritage place or a local heritage place, this might be the time to convert that space into a residential space through adaptive reuse.
The ARCHI incentive scheme is a dedicated grant program supporting the delivery of residential adaptive reuse throughout Adelaide City of South Australia.
What Spaces Are Now Eligible For The ARCHI Scheme?
The project by the Adelaide City Council has now been expanded to capture a broader range of properties, and below is what can qualify:
- Shop tops: Buildings which are up to 4 storeys in height
- Commercial to Residential: Buildings 5 storeys and above
- Heritage: Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings to residential use
- Major projects: Delivering 20-plus dwellings subject to council approvals
Funding and Support
Part One: Feasibility Assessment, Professional Advice And Documentation
Successful applicants will receive a reimbursement covering a portion of the costs for professional advice to assess a building’s suitability for adaptive reuse and to prepare the necessary documentation for the Development Approval process in residential adaptive reuse projects.
Funding Categories
| CATEGORY | FUNDING |
| Shop-tops: Buildings up to four storeys in height | Receive up to 50% of the total cost of consultant fees (up to $10,000) |
| Commercial to residential: Buildings five storeys and above | Receive up to 50% of the total cost of consultant fees (up to $25,000) |
| Major projects delivering 20+ dwellings | To be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with funding subject to Council decision |
Support
Professional advice may include:
- Assessment and analysis of the building’s condition, layout, materials, and architectural features.
- Specialist advice including planning, fire safety, structure, services, accessibility, energy performance, acoustics and cost – or other specific elements of the project.
- Concept and design development including architectural plans, drawings and specifications that document proposed works.
*Funding is reimbursed on completion of the works and receipt of a Development Approval.
Part Two: Residential Adaptive Reuse Works
Successful applicants will be reimbursed a percentage of costs for building works to deliver residential adaptive reuse projects.
Funding categories
| CATEGORY | SUPPORT | FUNDING |
| Shop-tops: Buildings up to four storeys in height | Part 2A – Residential adaptive reuse construction works – Projects delivering one to three dwellings | Receive up to 50% of the total costs (up to $25,000) |
| Part 2B – Residential adaptive reuse construction works – Projects delivering four or more dwellings | Receive up to 50% of the total costs (up to $50,000) | |
| Commercial to residential: Buildings five storeys and above | Part 2A – Residential adaptive reuse construction works – Projects delivering one to three dwellings | Receive up to 50% of the total costs (up to $25,000) |
| Part 2B – Residential adaptive reuse construction works – Projects delivering four or more dwellings | Receive up to 50% of the total costs (up to $50,000) | |
| Major projects delivering 20+ dwellings | To be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with funding subject to Council decision | Funding recommendations exceeding $50,000 will be presented to Council for decision. |
Support building works may include:
- Fire safety upgrades: wet, electrical and dry improvements
- Access upgrades: ambulant entries, parking and safe exits
- Structural upgrades: roofing, load-bearing walls, stairs, lifts and floors
- Base building repairs: sewer and electrical improvements to local codes
- Building additions associated with the residential conversion (comprising less than 20% of the original building floorplate)
- Decks and/or balconies creating private open space
- Retrofitting works to improve building performance: energy efficiency
- Building services upgrades: heating and cooling
- Window openings and upgrades
- Internal partition walls
- Wet area upgrades to comply with current local codes and standards
- Interior finishing: acoustic, visual, and energy
If you would like to discuss your next project with the Adelaide City Council using funding from the ARCHI incentive scheme, please contact Mayfair Building Group today on 0429361819 or email Aaron at info@mayfairbuildinggroup.com.au
*Funding is reimbursed upon satisfactory inspection by City of Adelaide staff confirming the project has been completed in accordance with approved documentation and funding agreement, and receipt of the Certificate of Occupancy.