Dublin City’s Housing Observatory share early insights into Migration, Integration and Housing study

Insights were discussed as part of the Vienna Model of Housing Exhibition

Early insights from a new study into the anticipated demographic  and migration changes facing Dublin’s housing system in the next 3 to 5 years were discussed during a seminar on ‘Demography, Migration, Integration and Housing’, as part of the second week of events accompanying the Vienna Model of Housing, taking place across Dublin until 25^th April.

The ongoing study, led by Future Analytics Consulting on behalf of Dublin City’s Housing Observatory, has investigated a range of scenarios to Dublin’s changing housing system as determined by the dynamic components of population such as national and international migration, fertility and mortality. The research into the resulting housing impacts of these changes will inform and update the Dublin City Council housing strategy, allowing the city to adapt and respond effectively.

Speaking on the ongoing study, Prof. William Hynes, Director of Future Analytics Consulting, said, “Understanding population growth and the impact of change is important for planning in the residential sector. It generates dynamic needs and demands.”

Prof. Hynes continued, “Dublin City Council is presently updating the City Development Plan Housing Strategy (2016-2022), and working alongside Future Analytics Consulting, are exploring the influence sudden shifts in migration can have on housing provision. The findings to date have really brought to light the importance of understanding migration as a key component of population change, particularly given Ireland, by its nature, is a small, open, but globally connected economy.”

Five distinct population growth scenarios have been assessed examining the influences of various economic activities and impacts. Initial findings from the ongoing research indicate that Dublin city’s trajectory of growth could accelerate rapidly, should certain Brexit outcomes come to pass. The resulting increases in population are estimated between 7.2%  – 11.5% by 2022.

Commenting on initial study findings, Prof. Kenneth Gibb, Chair of the Independent Advisory Board to the Dublin City Housing Observatory, stressed the importance of understanding housing as a system connected to the wider urban economy.

Prof. Gibb said, “It is vital that policymakers appreciate the factors driving housing, the component elements of the housing system and, above all, their interrelationships and connections. Housing is embedded in the metropolitan economy and both constrains the economy and is constrained by it.”

He also said:  “Dublin’s housing system is currently imbalanced in important ways, which initially imposes financial challenges but will also result in the creation of further inequality and will erode social mobility. A sound empirical and rigorous basis for analysing what is going on in the Dublin housing system is an important first step to give policymakers and planners the tools to work with the grain of the housing system.”

Dr Dáithí Downey, Head of Housing Policy Research and Development with Dublin City Council, who leads the Dublin City Housing Observatory said, “It is crucial that we better understand popuation and demongraphic drivers of housing need and that we move to introduce more effective analytical tools to better steer Dublin’s housing strategy to meet our future needs. Building on this study, we hope to introduce a new Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) for Dublin to improve our understanding of access to housing and of housing affordability. With these tools, decision makers working in housing delivery are better informed when implementing local and regional housing strategies under the National Planning Framework.”

Commenting on the need for updated housing strategies, Michaela Kauer, Head of Brussels Office of the City of Vienna, said, “The EU has more than 220 million households, and an alarming number of 82 million Europeans are overburdened by housing costs. The main challenges are to provide new and renew existing housing, find building ground for affordable housing, develop neighbourhoods in partnership with citizens and set up housing schemes where they are not implemented yet.”

The Dublin City Housing Observatory is working with local authorities to prepare for the forth coming adoption of the anticipated Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) that will inform housing policy. More findings arising from the study into Dublin’s demography, migration, integration and housing will be published in due course.

The Vienna Model of Housing Exhibition is open to the public and will be hosted in The Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun from 10^th to 13^th April and Richmond Barracks from 15^th to 25^th April. Free seminars and free children’s workshops will take place across all venues. Register for seminars and workshops online at www.HousingModelDublin.ie.

For more information: www.HousingModelDublin.ie

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

The Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) is national objective 37 under the National Planning Framework (NPF) and is regional policy objective 9.5 under the draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA). The NPF is adopted as statutory national planning framework and is underway. The RSES remains draft until adopted as a statutory plan. This is expected for May/June 2019.