Demolition-regeneration programmes a thing of the past

The senior citizens flats complex at Ballygall Road East, Finglas, which was part of a deep retro-fitting scheme by Dublin City Council. Photograph: Dave Meehan

Dublin City Council is to discontinue its policy of widespread demolition and reconstruction of its older flat complexes in favour of extensive renovation programmes which will see some smaller flats amalgamated to make larger homes.

Throughout the construction boom of the last decade the council pursued a housing regeneration policy which involved the demolition of estates and their redevelopment through public-private partnership deals with property developers.

While the council has redeveloped some complexes using public money, such as the recently completed Thornton Heights on the site of St Michaels estate in Inchicore, others, including ODevaney Gardens in Dublin 7, will not be redeveloped in the foreseeable future.

We cant afford wholesale demolition and rebuilding any more. And, as we have seen, that has the potential to destroy communities, the councils head of housing Dick Brady said.

Instead we will undertake a deep retrofitting of around 1,000 flats to bring them to the same standards as any new-built unit.

On a smaller scale deep-retrofitting has already been used to regenerate a senior citizens complex at Ballygall Road East in Glasnevin, where 80 bedsits have been amalgamated to create 38 larger one-bedroom apartments, all of which are wheelchair accessible.

This was done at a cost of less than 4 million and without the need for demolition.

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Demolition-regeneration programmes a thing of the past