Reusing vacant buildings could meet 40% of Dublin's housing targets, report finds

A new report commissioned by Dublin City Council offers a compelling vision for tackling Dublin's housing crisis while simultaneously advancing the city's climate objectives. The findings indicate that a substantial portion of new housing needs—up to 40%—could be met by creatively repurposing existing vacant commercial spaces and the often-overlooked areas above shops. This approach not only addresses the urgent need for more homes but also aligns with crucial environmental goals.

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This would present an important contribution to [the council’s] target of creating 40,000 new homes between 2022 and 2028.

The research, conducted by environmental experts from the Centre for Public Impact and TransCap Initiative, strongly advocates for adaptive reuse over demolition. It warns that continuous demolition and rebuilding efforts directly undermine Dublin's climate action targets. By reusing existing structures, the city can significantly reduce embodied carbon emissions, a critical factor in mitigating climate change. This perspective underscores a growing global understanding that sustainable development must prioritize the existing built environment.

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Our research identified the reuse of existing buildings as the most immediately viable, under-resourced, and impactful route to advance circularity and progress towards [the council’s] climate mitigation objectives through reducing embodied carbon.

However, the report does not shy away from the financial challenges. The refurbishment of Dublin's vacant building stock requires a considerable investment, estimated at billions of euros. While the council has initiated some adaptive reuse projects, progress has been slow, with many promising schemes curtailed due to funding complexities and bureaucratic hurdles. The report calls for a redirection of public funding and a reform of financing mechanisms to better support these circular economy initiatives, emphasizing that the scale of the challenge necessitates a more strategic and integrated approach to funding and policy.

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The funding need for adaptive reuse is too significant to be covered by [the council’s] current funding mechanisms alone.