Building Adaptably: How the construction sector can future proof Irish cities

Environmental Sustainability Research

Building Adaptably: How the construction sector can future proof Irish cities

This paper examines how building adaptably can help address two interconnected challenges facing Ireland’s cities: commercial vacancy and housing shortages.

Joseph Kilroy

Policy & Public Affairs Manager - Ireland

Last updated: 30th November 2025

This paper outlines a proposal to introduce a building adaptability requirement for new large scale building projects in Ireland’s city development plans. To that end, this paper aims to answer the following research question: What are the policies that can be put in place to incentivise new buildings being built in a way that allows for their adaptation to different uses over time?

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