The conversion of a once-derelict office block into social housing for older people in one of Cork’s most desirable neighbourhoods has been hailed as a pioneering response to Ireland’s housing crisis.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath was speaking as he officially opened the Springville House residential development on the city’s Blackrock Road on Friday, where several private homes are on sale for €1m-plus.
It is the first commercial office-to-residential conversion schemes in Cork, and one of the first such schemes in the country.
“Converting vacant office blocks into residential spaces promotes sustainable urban development by revitalising neglected urban areas, improving city living conditions, and fostering connected communities,” Mr McGrath said.
“Springville House is an exemplar of innovative thinking and collaboration between the public and private sectors. It is important we continue to deliver similar initiatives to effectively address Ireland’s housing challenges.”
The Springville House office block, which was originally built in the 1960s, once served as the former headquarters of Pettit Consulting Engineers before being acquired by Mott McDonald in 2006.
Two separate attempts to secure planning for residential development on the site were unsuccessful before the property was acquired by MMD Construction, which then worked with Cork City Council and Tuath Housing on the social housing plan for the site.
In 2019, city councillors approved an amended Part 8 plan to adapt and extend the building, and then change its use to facilitate residential development.
The office-to-residential conversion project was designed specifically for people aged 60 and over who are looking to downsize their homes.
The voluntary “rightsizing” initiative, promoted by the council, aims to help people in the age bracket who want to move to more suitably sized homes, thereby freeing up their former existing properties for younger families.
MMD Construction undertook a complete retrofit and repurposing of the structure and built 31 high-quality, energy-efficient A-rated apartments within the fabric of the existing building — 13 two-bedroom apartments and 18 one-bedroom apartments — with four one-bedroom single-storey houses also built on the site.
The private and secure development is managed by Tuath Housing, on behalf of the council.
The entire project was funded with a loan from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) and Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding from the Department of Housing.
HFA chief executive Barry O’Leary congratulated Tuath for delivering the complex building project, while Angela Murphy, a member of Tuath’s voluntary board of directors, said it plans to deliver more such sustainable housing projects.
“It is vital that we continue to repurpose existing, vacant buildings that can transform an underutilised space into a thriving residential community,” she said.
“Tuath will continue to support local authorities and Government in this manner, as we look to find more ways of investing in people, places and communities.”
Ann Doherty, the chief executive of Cork City Council, also credited the council’s use of the innovative EU Competitive Dialogue procurement process, city councillors for approving the Part 8 planning for the project, and the partnership approach between various bodies which led to the conversion of a former commercial site for housing in a central and sustainable location.
“Central to this was a meaningful stakeholder engagement process for this project on the Blackrock Road,” she said.
