Social housing regeneration in Dublin: market-based regeneration and the creation of sustainable communities

Abstract

A number of social housing flat complexes in the inner city of Dublin have been selected to be demolished and redeveloped as mixed tenure neighbourhoods using public–private partnership mechanisms. Driven in part by an economic rationale, this policy also seeks to regenerate these estates as mixed or integrated communities, with the assumption being that the existing estates are exemplars of unsustainable communities. This article analyses the rationales used to regenerate these areas, in particular focussing on the emerging central government policy of developing sustainable communities. The article argues that delivering a sustainable community is neither a straightforward nor an easy process, particularly for the residents of the social housing estates being regenerated. In seeking to develop mixed and balanced communities through this market-based method, the existing social housing tenants are faced with a complex series of negotiations with regard to the physical and social regeneration of their estates. The article, using ongoing research, analyses the ways in which the existing communities have to negotiate the process of regeneration and the risks that are inherent in a market-led model of regeneration.

Keywords:

• social housing
• regeneration
• Dublin
• public–private partnership
• sustainable communities

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Royal Irish Academy's Third Sector Research Programme and the Centre for Housing Research for funding the research on which this article is based.

Notes

An informal council of EU Ministers agreed the Bristol Accord in December 2005.

Interview and notes from regeneration worker in Dolphin House.

Of the 420 households recorded as living on the estate by the city council, 132 households responded to the community questionnaire – a response rate of 31%.

The DHCDA is a community development association comprising four members of the resident's association, two other community representatives, one local politician, one national politician, an official from DCC and an official from one other statutory agency.