Introducing residential units above shops could help resolve the housing crisis.

That’s according to architect and Home of the Year host Hugh Wallace, who applauded business group Dublin Town’s calls for housing above the city centre’s shops. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Wallace said the Government introduced a scheme to facilitate people living over shops approximately 20 years ago.

“[And] yet no progress is really being made,” he said. “That has to do with red tape around building control regulations and in particular fire regulation.” 

The current design of city shops largely isn’t suitable for housing above shops – but Mr Wallace said there is potential. 

“Something they’ve done very successfully in Temple Bar is there is a single point of access for four or five units and premises, and you can go down the back to access from the rear,” he explained. 

'Planning nightmare'

He said planning these back entrances on a larger scale would be a “planning nightmare” in Dublin, despite other European cities also using this design for housing. 

“But in Ireland, we just have this policy of putting up barriers,” he said. 

“We come up with these great ideas and grants, but then we put up barriers so you can’t do it.” 

Talbot Street, Dublin. Image: George Carter / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Wallace said the Government is “wasting 180,000 opportunities in this country” for housing, or likely more. 

“They’re in our towns and villages, they’re in our city centres, all of which need people to live in to make them vibrant,” he said. 

He said more people living in the city centre could improve the safety and quality of the city overall. 

“There’s nobody passionate about Henry Street, there’s nobody passionate about Talbot Street,” he said. “But we need to be.” 

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