Ms Marion Jammet:

Obviously, it is easier to design for adaptability in a new build. That makes perfect sense. There are more challenges in renovations but it may be possible. In many of the suburbs of Dublin, an additional floor could be put on some of the properties or areas could be gentrified. There are definitely options as regards the existing stock. It might just be about looking at our needs and trying to better understand the stock we already have. It may not be possible to make some of these three-bed detached properties more adaptable but at least we know they are already in the stock and that we may not need more of them. It is about thinking in that way, trying to better understand what we already have and what we need and looking at innovation where these properties can be made more adaptable.

It is not only about housing. It is also about intensifying or maximising the use of buildings at different times of the day. That can be done in some existing buildings. The example in Amsterdam we mentioned in our statement was a new build but similar examples could be found. Many of our schools are empty for a few months during the year. How can we make better use of these buildings?

To go back to public procurement, we have seen positive developments in recent months, especially with regard to the requirement to measure whole-life carbon and using methods of construction that result in less embedded carbon.