Vacancy

Researcher: Dublin Simon Community, in association with Dr Kathleen Stokes, School of History and Geography, Dublin City University. 

Title: Opportunities and challenges for widespread refurbishment of vacant "above the shop" units for residential use  

Overview:

This research addresses the challenges, opportunities and processes presented by the conversion/reuse of over the shop units for residential use. It will capture available best practices, solutions and policy guidance, and asses how lessons could be applied in a systematic approach to vacant units over shops for residential use, and social housing in particular.

The research will address the following questions:

  • What are the primary barriers to accessing and upgrading vacant units over shops into residential use, and social housing in particular?
  • What policy mechanisms, capabilities, powers and resources are needed to convert vacant units over shops into residential use, and social housing in particular?
  • What best practice can be learned from existing upgrades, renovations, or conversions of vacant units over shops offer for the provisions of social housing?
  • How can lessons be scaled up or contribute to systematic responses to vacant units over shops in Dublin, and Ireland more broadly?

The research will identify a property and undertake a feasibility exercise on the acquisition and refurbishment of a unit. The process will be documented, and interviews conducted over the course of the exercise. The learnings from this process will be disseminated through a report identifying the approaches to bringing vacant units over shops into residential use, common challenges and identified best practice.

Status: Completed Q1 2024

Outputs: 19834_VATSU_Report_Web.pdf (dubsimon.ie)