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Case Studies

The case studies on these pages are mostly rooted at home, although we have also illustrated good practice from organisations outside of Northern Ireland.

We encourage you to read these introductory articles and get in touch with the listed contacts if you want more detailed information. Use them as inspiration, copy them, reinterpret them or just admire them. 

 

Green Roofs and Vertical Gardens – nature-based solutions to climate change in an urban context

The climate crisis is forcing us to change our cities for the best response to impending social, economic and environmental disruptions and traditional systems like white painted roofs and walls, along with new solutions are taking over worldwide. Nature-based Solutions in UK Climate Adaptation Policy (2021), a report prepared by the Nature-based Solutions Initiative at the University of Oxford for WWF-UK and RSPB, has highlighted the key role of natural solutions in helping the UK to adapt to the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise, floods, droughts and heatwaves.

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Bonham Quay, a beacon of sustainable development in the heart of Galway

Combining office, retail, restaurant and cultural space, Bonham Quay is designed to create a healthy, greener work environment for 2,600 people where it’s easy to make sustainable choices.

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Compostable Packaging Project: Ards and North Down Borough Council

Plastic is one of the most common materials used in business today. The use of single-use plastic is increasingly problematic due to its impact on the environment, biodiversity and marine life. Thousands of pieces of plastic litter wash up on Northern Ireland’s coastline each year. About 70% of the 6,250 pieces of litter per km on our local beaches is plastic (2016/17).

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Dingle: A case study for a sustainable future

The Dingle Peninsula is a well-known beauty spot, a magnet for holidaymakers in County Kerry. But there’s more: it is also home to an exciting project involving a number of key national agencies and local community representatives coming together to explore the transition to a low carbon future: Dingle 2030.

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IGNITION: Nature-based solutions to the climate emergency in Greater Manchester

IGNITION is a ground-breaking project that aims to develop innovative financing solutions for investment in Greater Manchester’s natural environment. This investment will help to build the city region’s ability to adapt to the increasingly extreme impacts of climate change.

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The Ormeau Parklet: a test model to expand public space

The Ormeau Parklet is a trial placemaking project to test how Belfast can creatively redesign public spaces. Belfast Buildings Trust, Queen’s University Belfast, OGU Architects, MMAS Architects, the Department for Infrastructure, Belfast City Council, and four local hospitality businesses, are partnering on the project.

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Repair at the heart of the community

Repair Café Belfast runs pop up community events where skilled volunteers help people fix their broken items. The team has run monthly events across the city and fixed hundreds of electricals, bikes, clothes and more. In response to interest from across Northern Ireland, they are now sharing their experience and helping other communities to start their own local repair café.

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Elephant Park: £2.3 billion regeneration project – the UK's first climate positive development

Lendlease has been working in partnership with Southwark Council to deliver a £2.3 billion regeneration project in Elephant and Castle since 2010. Elephant Park is part of the wider Elephant and Castle Opportunity Area, one of Southwark Council’s ambitious redevelopment programmes. (The regeneration is split across three sites: Elephant Park, Trafalgar Place and One The Elephant.)

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Sustainable Food Growing at Greenisland Allotments

The Greenisland Allotments in Greenisland opened over five years ago in response to the community desire to have access to greater communal green space. Thanks to almost £10k from the Whitemountain Programme, residents of Greenisland, including school and community groups, can now enjoy the site with improved facilities including a sustainable toilet, polytunnel for community growing and a suite of tools to help the plot holders look after the site. The allotments are managed by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

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Handiheat - Improving Energy Efficiency for Rural Areas

Handiheat is a European project focussed on energy efficiency in rural communities who are heavily dependent on fossil fuel imports, and where fuel inequity is prevalent. Northern Ireland Partners include Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the ARC Healthy Living Centre in County Fermanagh as well as partners from Finland, Iceland, Shetland, and the Republic of Ireland

The project aims to address policy and establish a set of resources and toolkits, which can be implemented to help provide sustainable energy solutions for these communities. 

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