Facing the challenge of building 50,000 new homes annually, Ireland’s current development approach could cause significant biodiversity loss. Biodiversity specialist and IGBC Marketing and Communications Manager IRENE RONDINI writes about a new IGBC/TCD research project that explores how Ireland can adopt “nature-led” development.
Faced with the challenge of building 50,000 new homes annually by 2040, Ireland’s residential development is at a crossroads. As a leading cause of habitat and biodiversity loss, a “business-as-usual” approach threatens the country’s natural heritage. Biodiversity specialist and IGBC Communications & Marketing Manager Irene Rondini writes about a in research project that is exploring how Ireland can shift to “nature-led” development, where new housing restores and enhances nature, rather than eroding it.
By 2040, Ireland’s population is expected to grow by 20%. That means some 50,000 homes must be built each year to keep up with demand. But at what cost to Nature? Residential development is a leading cause of habitat and biodiversity loss, and with increased demand for housing coming down the track, a business-as-usual approach will only deepen the damage.
Yet, within this urgency lies a unique opportunity: to build in a way that restores, rather than erodes, nature. A growing body of research shows that the construction industry has the potential to be part of the solution.
The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC), in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and supported by the Housing Agency, is leading efforts to understand how that shift can happen. Through the BIO-NEIGHBOUR research, we are investigating how Ireland can make “nature-led” residential development the new normal in Ireland.
Towards a clearer definition
But what does nature-led mean?
Over the past six months, the IGBC and TCD have developed a working definition of this concept.
“Nature-led residential developments mean the overall ecological impact of a project, including land use, construction, supply chains, and occupation, results in a demonstrable enhancement of biodiversity and supports long-term ecological resilience, accounting for both direct site-level impacts and indirect embodied ecological impacts.”
Towards a clearer definition
But what does nature-led mean?
Over the past six months, the IGBC and TCD have developed a working definition of this concept.
“Nature-led residential developments mean the overall ecological impact of a project, including land use, construction, supply chains, and occupation, results in a demonstrable enhancement of biodiversity and supports long-term ecological resilience, accounting for both direct site-level impacts and indirect embodied ecological impacts.”
Signs of progress – and persistent barriers
The research so far shows that there are encouraging signs with general awareness in the industry having increased in the past decade.
Some residential schemes now include swales, pollinator-friendly planting and rainwater gardens. But these are typically one-off features, not part of a wider ecological strategy.
More fundamentally, the research points to barriers that remain deeply rooted. There is no legal requirement for developers to achieve biodiversity net gain. Strategies at the national and local levels are often misaligned. Enforcement is weak, and political will is limited.
There is also a significant knowledge gap. Developers, planners and builders often lack the tools or understanding needed to assess biodiversity impacts.
One other area of concern is the lack of awareness around embodied ecological impacts – the hidden effects of materials and supply chains.
The sector also struggles with a shortage of ecological expertise, and ecologists are often brought in too late to meaningfully influence design.
Maintenance is another blind spot: there are few legal safeguards to ensure nature-based features are cared for long after construction ends.
And, then there’s money. A lack of financial incentives, questions about return on investment, and limited public funding all stand in the way.
What needs to change?
Our research’s preliminary findings suggest a number of interventions which will be further investigated by TCD in the next few months.
Binding national regulations, such as those requiring biodiversity net gain, would send a clear signal, but they must be simple to ensure wide implementation.
Ecologists should be involved from the outset.
Training and upskilling across the construction and planning sectors are urgently needed. A national biodiversity knowledge hub could serve as a central resource.
Financially, targeted tax relief or new models such as ecological bonds could help close the funding gap.
Critically, responsibilities around maintenance and long-term management must be clarified, whether with developers, local authorities, or communities themselves.
Above all, the industry needs better collaboration. The silos between planners, ecologists, architects and developers must be broken down if nature is to be properly integrated from the very beginning of each project.
This is only the first phase of the BIO-NEIGHBOUR initiative, capturing insights from IGBC members and construction professionals through in-depth interviews. You can explore the findings in the interim report at www.igbc.ie, with full recommendations to support government efforts in scaling up nature-led housing, coming later this year. With the stakes rising, the time to act is now.
To learn more, visit www.igbc.ie/resources/bio-neighbour-report-1