Adaptive Reuse
The Adaptive Reuse Unit in the Housing and Community Services Department is creating new social housing apartments by adapting and refurbishing vacant office and commercial buildings in Dublin city.
The delivery of Adaptive Reuse projects demonstrates a commitment by Dublin City Council to proactively engage in implementing the policies of the City Development Plan 2022-2028 in relation to the refurbishment of the historic built environment, achieving reductions in vacancy and underuse of buildings, and promoting refurbishment over demolition and reconstruction of buildings where possible. As is often quoted “The greenest building is the one that is already built”. Research by the Irish Green Building Council in relation to delivering housing highlights the importance of using existing buildings to deliver new housing if carbon reduction targets in the built environment sector are to be achieved. Modelling indicates that more than one third of our new homes should be created from existing buildings to achieve our 2030 carbon reduction targets. With commercial vacancy rates increasing and property prices falling it is expected that the Adaptive Reuse of commercial and non-residential buildings will become an increasingly desirable option for creating new homes in Dublin city in the coming years.
After assessing over 500 properties, and completing 17 feasibility studies, the Adaptive Reuse Unit progressed to putting in place a programme of projects. Five projects received funding approval, and three properties were acquired by DCC including a historic building on Capel Street and a former bank building in Phibsborough. A design team framework was established in April 2025 for the delivery of adaptive reuse projects to 2032. The Adaptive Reuse Unit in Dublin City Council was identified by the National Oversight and Audit Commission as an example of Good Practice in Local Government in 2024.
During Quarter 2 of 2025, a decision was made to temporarily scale back the unit so that resources could be reassigned to the progression of new build projects.
One adaptive reuse project is currently being delivered: 14-15 Fitzwilliam Quay, Ringsend, Dublin 4, while other projects are on hold. It is hoped that additional projects will be recommenced when technical resources become available for assignment to housing delivery projects in Dublin City Council.