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 unit is delivering along two of the pathways to a sustainable housing system identified under Housing for All: to increase new housing supply, and to address vacancy and efficient use of existing stock. 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. With commercial vacancy rates increasing and property prices falling, it is expected that 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. 

Projects Underway 

After assessing over 500 properties, and completing 15 feasibility studies, the Adaptive Reuse Unit has developed a programme of projects to be delivered over the next few years. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) has granted funding approval for five Adaptive Reuse projects in the Dublin City Council area. The acquisition of two properties has completed, including a former office building in Ringsend that will be converted to 15 apartments for use as social housing or affordable sale, and a building on Capel Street that will be converted to apartments on the upper floors. Three further properties are in the process of being acquired. 

The unit is engaging with the private sector to understand barriers to the redevelopment of vacant buildings in Dublin, and to seek to address these barriers through policy and process reform and through engagement with the DHLGH. 

The unit is also working on a commercial vacancy assessment project to identify in more detail the scale of potential in vacant commercial property, with a view to developing detailed guidance and support in relation to the redevelopment of existing buildings. 

Contact

For further information, please contact [email protected]