Lead PI:
Tom Grey, Trinity College Dublin
Abstract:
The research examines the implications of Universal Design (UD) dwellings on the current Irish Building Regulations and associated Technical Guidance Documents. The primary objective was to assess potential additional considerations for compliance with current Building Regulations in terms of UD related design and specification (e.g. space, structure, materials etc), and to assess any significant construction costs related to these additional considerations.
Background
The implementation of Universal Design (UD) housing in Ireland aligns with a range of current Government policy, some of which include:
- a) Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’, relating to public and social Housing states: ‘Ensure an appropriate mix of housing design types is provided, including universally designed units, accommodation for older people and people with disabilities’.
- b) Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030: Action Plan on Housing Supply and Targeting Homelessness. The Irish Government’s new housing plan aims to deliver social and affordable homes and tackle homelessness with construction of 300,000 homes, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports. Section 6.8 ‘Securing the Right Delivery Mix of Social Homes’ argues that any increased supply must comprise ‘the mix of social homes needed i.e. houses or apartments, the right mix of 1-, 2-, 3, or 4-bed homes, and homes that reflect universal design principles, fostering inclusivity.’
- c) Housing Options for our Ageing Population: Policy Statement (2019) which states: ‘A key principle underpinning Government housing policy is to support older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence for as long as possible…..The ambition will be guided by Universal Design principles in so far as practicable….All new housing should be reasonably accessible for older people and, in so far as possible, the design should provide for flexibility in use, accessibility and adaptability
- d) The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 promotes the ‘inclusion of a Universal Design approach to housing….Theme 1 Accessible Housing and Communities… focuses on the provision of accessible housing for disabled people and the promotion of accessible communities and universally designed homes’.
Project Objectives
- To Assess UD requirements in respect of new dwellings (ranging from multi-dwelling buildings to individual houses) in Ireland, based on a) the Universal Guidelines for Homes in Ireland, and b) a draft of ‘I.S.375 – Universal Design Dwellings: Requirements and recommendations’.
- Assess the potential impacts of these UD requirements on all relevant Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) to highlight specific design and construction issues that may require certain measures such as alternative specifications to ensure Building Regulation compliance.
- Identify the additional construction costs associated with the above measures put in place to achieve Building Regulation compliance for a model UD dwelling and a UD Dwelling Plus. (These cost estimates are currently being prepared by Mitchell McDermot Quantity Surveyors)
To date, the 2015 Universal Design Guidelines for Homes in Ireland have provided guidance in this area, more recently a new Irish standard has been drafted – ‘I.S.375 – Universal Design Dwellings: Requirements and recommendations’ – and is due to go out for public consultation in 2025. While this forthcoming standard will bring much clarity, there is still a need to fully understand the implications of UD dwellings for current and future Building Regulations.
Tom Grey,
Research Fellow – TrinityHaus Research Center, Trinity College Dublin
Tom graduated from DIT Bolton Street in 1998 with an honours degree in Architecture before moving to New Zealand in 2003 to further his interest in sustainable design, where he completed a two-year Masters in the subject at the University of Auckland. His early career spanned a decade of professional practice, during which he contributed to architectural projects across Ireland, the UK, Croatia, the US, and New Zealand, building a strong foundation in practical design.
Currently, Tom serves as a Research Fellow at TrinityHaus, where he focuses on urban and building design research with a core commitment to human-centred and sustainable principles. His work encompasses a variety of initiatives, ranging from the development of Universal Design (UD) guidelines for dementia-friendly dwellings to broader urban challenges such as shared space design, shared educational campuses, and sustainable indicator development for the Dublin region. Throughout these projects, Tom emphasizes participatory processes, ensuring that people-centred design and Universal Design remain the guiding focus of his research.
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