Glin Court

Description

The new development of Glin Court replaces roughly two thirds of the former housing complex with 32 new homes for Older People. In addition to providing modern homes, Glin Court also provides a landscaped courtyard to be shared and enjoyed by the residents. With the former homes having served the community for many decades the site is well established and located close to the church, local schools, shops, bus routes, sports & community centre and library.

Following public consultation and a rigorous design process the scheme has been designed to not only respond to the housing need in the area but also to offer older people in the area the chance to right size in a modern, adaptable and wheelchair accessible Age Friendly apartment. As a result, these new homes will go beyond the delivery of new homes but has the potential to free up family homes in the area and strengthen the community around it. Moreover, the number of homes on the site, the energy efficiency and the overall spec of Glin Court has been increased to provide residents with modern homes for the years ahead.

The homes are arranged in an l-shaped block with residents at ground level with provided direct access to the landscaped courtyards to the west and south. Their design integrates guidance from the NDA’s Building’s for Everyone and the ground floor units are designed to be fully accessible for wheelchair users and are capable of adaptation for wheelchair dependable living at any time in the future. Level access, both internally and externally is provided throughout the development and additional considerations which support residents’ security have also been incorporated.

In addition a new community centre and commercial grade kitchen were included in the development not only providing the residents of Glin Court and the wider area with a meals-on-wheels service but also an amenity to support community and other social activities.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of this development goes beyond the delivery of new homes and housing targets. It is the distillation of a number of factors into homes that will help to both continue and regenerate an area in which has historically support independent living for older people.

Regeneration: 26 bedsits, a number of which were damaged by fire are replaced by 32 1-bed apartments ensuring that the strategic location of this site can continue to support and be enjoyed by older people, their families and their local community.

Right Sizing: these new homes will go beyond the delivery of new homes but has the potential to free up family homes in the area and strengthen the community around it.

Contemporary standards: designed in accordance with current standards with regards to energy efficiency, size and quality.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative is aimed at older persons eligible for housing through one of Dublin City Council’s housing programmes.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Understanding housing need – achieved by studying the demographics in the area and through public consultations to ensure successful right-sizing.
2. Iterative design process: where all aspects of the design were explored under the headings of the NDA’s Building for Everyone guidance and UD features were integrated where possible.
3. Community Buy-in & Political Support

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Stakeholder engagement – reassurances that proper procedures regarding planning and allocations have been followed. This was also related to the political environment in which concerns that tenancy, for older persons, could be compromised.
2. Site – a tight brownfield site with limited access nestled within a small neighbourhood.
3. The temporary displacement of community facilities.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Right sizing leading to more homes available to larger families
2. Older persons availing of DCC maintenance and support staff enabling independent living
3. The regeneration of a strategic location allowing it to continue to support older people and their families to remain in the community.