Tuath Housing’s retrofit project delivers 31 sustainable homes for older residents while advancing Ireland’s climate goals.
🏆 Award Recognition
The Springville House redevelopment has been honoured with the ‘City Living’ category award at Cork’s Better Buildings Awards 2025, praised for its innovation in sustainable housing and urban regeneration.
🏠 From Offices to Homes
Led by Tuath Housing, the project transformed a derelict office block into 31 modern homes. Developed as a ‘Rightsizing’ scheme, Springville House is designed for residents aged over 60, offering age‑friendly accommodation while freeing up larger family homes for younger households.
🌍 Sustainability and Impact
By retrofitting rather than rebuilding, the project achieved a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional construction. This approach supports Ireland’s decarbonisation targets while addressing pressing housing needs in Cork.
🤝 Partnership in Delivery
Springville House was delivered through collaboration between:
- Tuath Housing (lead implementer)
- Cork City Council
- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
- The Housing Agency
- Housing Finance Agency
- Developer MMD Construction
This partnership demonstrates how coordinated efforts can deliver housing solutions that are both socially impactful and environmentally responsible.
🔑 Why It Matters
Springville House stands as a model for future housing policy, showing how Ireland can combine urban renewal, sustainability, and social purpose. It highlights the potential of retrofit projects to meet housing demand while cutting emissions and revitalising city spaces.
📌 Ireland’s Retrofit Housing Strategy
Ireland’s housing policy increasingly emphasises retrofit and reuse as part of its climate and housing agenda:
- National Retrofit Plan: Targets upgrading 500,000 homes to B2 energy rating by 2030, reducing reliance on carbon‑intensive builds.
- Urban Regeneration: Focus on converting vacant and derelict properties into housing, particularly in city centres.
- Age‑Friendly Housing: Rightsizing schemes like Springville House align with government priorities to provide suitable homes for older residents.
- Climate Action Plan: Retrofit projects are central to reducing emissions from the built environment, which accounts for over 12% of Ireland’s carbon output.
Springville House exemplifies these strategies, showing how local projects can deliver national goals in housing supply and climate responsibility.
In summary: The Springville House redevelopment, implemented by Tuath Housing in partnership with Cork City Council, government agencies, and MMD Construction, has won the ‘City Living’ award for its innovative conversion of a disused office block into sustainable, age‑friendly homes. It also reflects Ireland’s broader retrofit housing strategy, where reuse and sustainability are key to tackling housing shortages and climate challenges.
