Sustainable communities & urban housing: Ireland

Transcription

1 Sustainable communities & urban housing: Ireland Nessa Winston School of Social Policy, Social Work & Social Justice University College Dublin 1

2 Overview: Sustainable communities 1. What is it? 2. How could Ireland improve? 2

3 1. What is it? Dominant view in Ireland? Affordability Social mix & community Some other elements need more attention Location: avoid sprawl, commuting, flooding Combining residential, commercial & leisure Dwelling type (e.g. semi-d ) & density Construction methods & materials Energy 3

4 Some key policies & documents Planning & Development Act 2000 SD & local authority SD plans National Spatial Strategy, 2002 NESC (2004) chapter on sustainable neighbourhoods National policy & guidance 2007/08, 2015 Draw on EU & NESC vision Energy strategies Energy poverty strategy (2009), White Paper on Energy 2015, 2012 Near zero energy buildings (A3 and above) by 2020 Overall, relatively good policy at national level & many local areas 4

5 2. Implementation of sustainable communities Ireland? a) Location & dwelling type for new build & renovation Context Long history of sprawl, recently to more distant locations Facilitated by improved roads Larger dwellings than EU Space: 39% > EU average, 31% > UK Much less multi-family housing than EU 9% multi-family housing v EU average 42% Higher in particular urban areas Recent decline in detached but also terraced dwellings Increase in apartments but also semi-detached 5

6 Scope for some increase in density & height: city, inner & outer suburbs, compact satellites Social mix Social class but also families (suburban flight ), singles, older people Dwelling quality space, noise Neighbourhood quality safety, outdoor space, green (leisure, biodiversity, food, community energy) & water (reduce flood risk) Good public transport Not done well? Those who can move will move Irish & international evidence 6

7 Increase supply via density, diversifying built form & height but not high rise House type Density/ hectare Storeys Courtyard 57 2 Terraced courtyard Mews Mews (terraced maisonettes) Mews (flats & maisonettes) Source: East Thames Delivering Successful Higher Density Housing 7

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9 Quality of life key: 5 storey, no over-looking/shading, green space, family apartments, city centre Copyright: Volker Schoop 9

10 Renovation: 5 storey, generous balconies, penthouses added copyright: Angelika Marxer 10

11 Help reduce travel by private car? (source: census) Means of travel by year, On Foot Bicycle Bus Train Motor Cycle Car 11

12 Commuting ctd Problems in many urban areas Dublin car dependent (Wickham) Exacerbates social exclusion, trapped if no car make sacrifices to run a car (energy poverty link) 12

13 Context 2. Sustainable communities Ireland? b) Energy & Residential Sector Overly reliant on imported fossil fuels Use & CO2 emissions/dwelling (climate corrected) significantly > EU & UK averages High & fluctuating prices energy poverty 13

14 Energy poverty Various definitions & measurements: ability to keep home warm/cool 20-28% of households? What typical household must spend to keep home heated to WHO norm relative to income (DCENR, 2015) 28 % percent of households higher for social housing tenants homes heated by oil & solid fuel 14

15 % Utility Arrears, EU 2015 (Source: EUSILC) IE: 6% in 2007, 18 % in EU28 Greece Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Hungary Slovenia Romania Latvia Ireland Italy Malta Poland Spain Lithuania Estonia Portugal Finland UK France Slovakia Belgium Germany Austria Denmark Czech Neth Sweden Lux 15

16 % Utility arrears by household type, Ireland, 2015 (Souce: EUSILC) Total Single & dependent kids 2 adults& 3/more dependent kids 1 adult < 65 years 3 /more adults & dependent kids 2 adults & 2 dependent kids 2 adults & 1 dependent child Single person 2 adults < 65 years 3 or more adults 2 adults 1 adult 65 & over 2 adults, at least one 65 & over 16

17 Fuel poverty among food bank users (Michael Drew) Well you have to get the money together for the oil.if you don t have 150 then they won t give you any...& it s very hard to have that amount 17

18 I do spend one or two days a week sitting in the dark with no electricity or no heating, every week. I don t have any electricity or heating at the moment at home, because I don t get paid until tomorrow. And it was cold so I came here.that happens regularly. 18

19 Health problems common theme, exacerbated by cost of energy I can t be in the cold I need heat. 19

20 How to reduce energy poverty? (i) New build: building regulations 2007: thermal efficiency of Irish dwellings among lowest EU Improvements in Energy Regulations since 2002 nearly zero energy homes (NZEB) would result in substantial reduction with energy required mostly from renewable sources Some positive results (SEAI) BER Reduced household energy expenditure For some, savings sufficient to fund investment. 20

21 (ii) Renovation 50% of stock built before these energy regs introduced Dept & local authorities Housing Aid for Older People living in private housing Local authority energy efficiency & central heating programmes SEAI various schemes Many target fuel poor households attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets, energy efficient lighting, cavity wall insulation, energy advice Positive results Thermal energy consumption decreased per dwelling Community energy projects 21

22 Conclusion: Sustainable communities Relatively good, joined up policy Critical juncture: increase supply but address challenges high quality dwellings & neighbourhoods medium density, medium rise energy efficient, low carbon Triple gain Economic: affordability, land efficiency Social: social mix, community, quality of life, reduce energy poverty, improve health Environment: more sustainable transport, reduce emissions Need integrated monitoring Comparison over time & across EU? 22

23 Thank you