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Introduction
According to an August 2026 report from RICS on the Use of AI in the commercial property and construction sector, over 75% of commercial property professionals who were surveyed worldwide are using AI in some form across their workflows. It is also the case that 66% of construction industry professionals now use AI in some capacity.
In terms of bottlenecks of AI integration, both commercial property and construction sectors have 39% of firms currently running early-stage pilots only. The conversion of these pilots into routine work adoption differs slightly, with 29% of commercial property organisations using AI on a regular basis, compared with 19% in construction. However, full scale AI integration remains rare across both sectors at just 1%.
Looking forward over the next 12 months, 47% of commercial property survey respondents are planning to increase AI investment, compared to 37% in construction.
The main drivers behind the acceleration in uptake of AI usage include lower barriers to entry with AI tools being integrated into other software, which means companies get AI capabilities from existing subscriptions without need for additional purchasing decisions. It is now also the case that just 25% of businesses believe that there is a high implementation cost to adding in more premium AI capabilities to their operations.
There is also an immediate administrative use case for AI across commercial property and construction, due to increased regulatory pressure. In the UK, strict compliance requirements, such as the Building Safety Act gateway regime means that businesses are turning to AI to assist with complex compliance activities.
Businesses, property developers and landlords looking to build, improve and renovate commercial and housing properties can seek grants and loans from local authorities to help with eligible costs. Council funding priorities permit funds being allocated first for improving empty homes so they can be brought back into use, home improvement activity to improve living standards for existing tenants and conversion grants to change unused commercial premises into new housing dwellings or renovate and improve for change into other commercial uses.
What Are Some Of The Latest UK Property Development Funding Opportunities Available?
i) Transforming Towns Programme – Town Centre Commercial Property Improvement Grants
Bridgend County Borough Council is providing funding for commercial building occupiers and owners to enhance building frontages together with the upgrade of vacant commercial floor space to bring it back into beneficial business use in the Bridgend, Maesteg and Porthcawl areas. Eligible costs include a range of external and internal works. Funding up to £300,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
ii) Grants for Empty Commercial Properties
Brent Council is providing grants for the owners of empty commercial properties to convert them into residential units. Funding is available up to £156,000 for 4 units or more and £39,000 for each 3 bedroom unit. Funding up to 70% of reasonable costs of work will be awarded.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iii) Private Landlord Home Improvement Grant – Standard Grant and Houses in Multiple Occupation
The Royal Borough of Greenwich Council is providing grants for the owners of empty residential properties to repair and refurbish their properties and bring them back into use. Grants of up to £15,000 are available for each house or flat and grants of up to £50,000 are available for properties that are to be let as a House in Multiple Occupation.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iv) Capital Development Fund
Carmarthenshire County Council is providing funding to support the re-development of premises in the town centre which are currently in a state of disrepair and not being utilised. Freeholders and leaseholders with a minimum of seven years lease agreement are eligible to apply. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
v) Empty Property Grants
Barnet Council is providing grants for landlords who own empty properties to repair, renovate and/or convert their properties and bring them back into residential use. Funding up to £40,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
vi) Grants for Landlords
Ribble Valley Borough Council is providing grants for landlords to renovate their homes to make them fit for occupation, or to convert premises into accommodation for rent, such as above shop spaces. Grant assistance of up to 50% of the conversion work costs is available up to a maximum of £15,000 per flat or £20,000 per two/three bedroomed property.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
vii) Below Tolerable Standard Grants
Dumfries and Galloway Council is providing grants for residential property owners to improve and repair their properties if they fail to meet the Tolerable Standard. Eligible costs include addressing unsafe levels of lead in the water supply, structural instability and severe rising or penetrating damp affecting living spaces, such as bedrooms or sitting rooms. Funding up to £20,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 31st March 2027
viii) Well Homes Empty Property Grant
Rochford District Council is providing grants to the owners of long-term empty residential properties for major repairs to the structure of the dwelling and any amenities within. Eligible works covered by the scheme include repairs to the roof, gutters and drainage, electrical rewiring, windows, doors, ceilings and floors, replacement heating systems, energy efficiency and works to maintain structural stability. Funding up to £5,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
How To Apply For Property Development Funding Schemes
Full details about how to apply for schemes and the eligibility criteria is available on each individual scheme page on the relevant website. Any deadlines, who can apply and what eligible costs the grants will cover will also be outlined on these pages. Interested individuals and businesses can speak to advisors based at each provider who can guide them through requirements and eligibility criteria to see if the relevant funding is a match with their needs and help them to apply. There are also application forms and other supporting guidance available on scheme pages as well.