Sustainability

Sustainable Development Strategy 2024 -2028

While delivering affordable homes at scale and at pace, the Agency also aims to support sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant communities. The LDA is committed to measuring sustainability across environmental, social, and economic dimensions, with the LDA’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2024–2028 (Sustainability Strategy) providing a clear roadmap to maximise the supply of affordable and social homes, while reducing environmental impacts and enhancing biodiversity.

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Vision and Guiding Principles

The LDA works to make efficient use of land to enable compact growth and sustainable mobility. In doing so, it delivers affordable, low-carbon, and climate-adaptive homes that provide long-term social value for communities, now and into the future. Three key principles supports the Agency's commitment to ensure that its developments deliver thriving, well-connected communities and contributes meaningfully to its Sustainable Development Strategy.

How the LDA addresses sustainability is guided by three main principles:

Mitigation

Endeavouring to mitigate the environmental impacts of activities through the sustainable location, design, development, and ongoing management of our assets.

Regeneration

Optimising the regenerative potential of activities through strategic site screening and selection which supports compact growth and modal shift.

Innovation

Supporting innovation and promoting industry-wide change to a more sustainable future through the exploration and adoption of innovative and community focused, planning, urban design and housing solutions.

Strategic Objectives

The Sustainability Strategy identifies six strategic objectives with a near to medium term focus on mitigating carbon impact and focusing on the potential for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) across the LDA's portfolio:

Carbon Reduction	minimising embodied and operational carbon in housing and infrastructure.
Water Stewardship	reducing consumption and protecting water quality.
Sustainable Land-Use & Mobility	designing walkable, connected communities with access to public transport.
Biodiversity & Climate Resilience	protecting habitats and creating green, climate-adapted spaces.
Circularity	promoting reuse, recycling and low-waste construction.
Social Value	delivering affordable homes while supporting health, wellbeing, and inclusion.

Collaboration and Innovation

Central to delivering the LDA’s sustainability strategy is collaboration and innovation. We work closely with government departments and agencies, local authorities, State bodies, third-level institutions, home builders, and industry peers — maximising these relationships to achieve shared sustainability goals. We also recognise the importance of high-quality, evidence-based data. To support this, the LDA actively invests in research on sustainability and the built environment. Current projects focus on biodiversity in housing developments, post-occupancy building performance, and tenant wellbeing — ensuring future communities are both resilient and people-centred.

Innovation and Action

Shanganagh Castle Estate, Shankill, Co. Dublin

One of Europe’s largest certified Passive House housing schemes, jointly delivered with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The project provides homes built to the world’s most rigorous energy standard, generating valuable performance data to guide future affordable housing standards.

Cooper Square, Seven Mills, Dublin 22

In partnership with Cairn under Project Tosaigh. the development includes one, two, and three-bed apartments built to Passive House standard, ensuring exceptional energy efficiency and comfort. The scheme is located in a well-connected new town with access to public transport, green open space, and community amenities.

Sandy Quarter, Galway City

The LDA piloted the use of the Natural England Metric to measure the benefits of integrated landscape design, urban design, and SuDS, establishing measurable Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) targets. This approach is now being applied across most LDA projects, with insights shaping future strategy in line with emerging EU and national policy.

Irish Planning Institue Awards

Climate Action Award

In 2025, The Land Development Agency won the The Climate Action Award for the LDA Sustainable Development Strategy 2024–2025. This award acknowledges projects which address climate mitigation or adaptation.

Governance & Standards

The LDA aligns with the NewERA Climate Action Framework, ensuring accountability and delivery on statutory climate obligations, and has also adopted the Home Performance Index (HPI).

Membership & Leadership

As a member of the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) and Construct Innovate, the LDA plays a leadership role in advancing low-carbon, climate-resilient housing and driving innovation across Ireland’s built environment sector.