The Irish Green Building Council launches Irish Case Studies

The Irish Green Building Council launches Irish Case Studies to Mainstream Biodiversity in the Built Environment

22nd May 2025

Susan Vickers, Chair of IGBC’s Biodiversity & Built Environment Community of Practice, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity and Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Chair of the Advisory Committee for Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan. Photo Marc O Sullivan.

Dublin, 22nd May 2025: The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) celebrated Ireland’s National Biodiversity Week today with the launch of the first set of Irish case studies to protect and enhance biodiversity within the built environment.

“Integrating biodiversity into planning and development presents a powerful opportunity to create healthier, more resilient communities. The case studies launched today highlight how this can be successfully implemented in Ireland,” said Susan Vickers, Chair of IGBC’s Biodiversity & Built Environment Community of Practice. “I hope they will inspire meaningful action across the industry.”

The construction and built environment sectors are deeply linked with nature, but also significantly contribute to biodiversity loss through land-use changes, pollution, climate change, and the spread of invasive species.

Opening the event, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity,  added: “We are facing urgent challenges – from biodiversity loss to climate change – making it more critical than ever to protect and enhance nature. The building sector has a vital role to play in this. These Irish examples, along with the work of the Irish Green Building Council, showcase how innovative, sustainable construction approaches can set a new benchmark for the industry”.

Christopher O’Sullivan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity at the launch of the Irish Case Studies

Responding to the Minister’s remarks, Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Chair of the Advisory Committee for Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan, said: “In line with the EU Nature Restoration Law, Ireland is beginning to draft its Nature Restoration Plan and engagement from all stakeholders will be critical to meeting our national, legally-binding targets. Urban ecosystems are hugely important to Ireland’s biodiversity, and it is extremely encouraging to see such engagement from industry with this topic”

Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Chair of the Advisory Committee for Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan, at the launch of IGBC’s Irish Case Studies

The set of case studies launched today includes:

The National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMH) project by Scott Tallon Walker in Portrane, Co. Dublin, focuses on building on the existing to avoid biodiversity loss and improve the health and well-being of patients.
The transformation of a green roof to a more biodiverse living roof in a Dublin City Centre location by Hibernia Real Estate.
Patrycja Kochaniuk, Sustainability Lead at Scott Tallon Walker Architects, who contributed to the NFMHS project, said: “The National Forensic Mental Health Service illustrates how collaboration between architects, contractors, ecologists, and the local community can achieve successful outcomes for nature and people. One such instance in this project was the restoration of a wetland by diverting surface water instead of using an underground attenuation tank — a solution made possible through the early involvement of an ecologist. I hope this case study demonstrates the importance of appropriate early involvement and active engagement and inspires other building professionals.”

National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMH) project by Scott Tallon Walker in Portrane, Co. Dublin

The launch was followed by a panel discussion on the key actions needed to effectively protect and enhance biodiversity in Ireland’s construction sector, particularly in new residential developments.

The case studies unveiled today are part of a collection of ten that will be released later this year. The initiative is supported by Construct Innovate and the Land Development Agency.

The case studies can be accessed on the IGBC website - HERE