Shaping our sustainable future: Oaklee launches comprehensive sustainability strategy 2025-2028

Oaklee, one of Ireland’s largest approved housing bodies (AHBs) recently unveiled its new Sustainability Strategy 2025-2028, outlining their adaptive measures to further its commitment to net zero emissions, climate resilience, and resident wellbeing.

Building on success: Reflecting on 2019-2023

Oaklee’s sustainability journey from 2019 to 2023 laid a strong foundation for its current and future efforts marked by notable milestones and strategic foresight:

• Expansion and innovation in housing delivery: During this period, Oaklee’s housing stock experienced substantial growth. Its Corporate Plan for 2016–2019 set the ambition to double the number of homes, a target achieved through innovative funding models such as Acorn Housing (a €50 million private finance SPV) and inclusion in Europe’s first EIB-backed PPP social housing project, Comhar Housing, bringing its footprint close to 1,300 homes by 2019.
• Resilient performance amid crises: Despite challenges like the Covid 19 pandemic and global supply shocks, Oaklee maintained strong performance in addressing building defects, health and safety compliance, and resident services. The organisation grew its housing portfolio, completed key projects like the previously mentioned Acorn Housing and delivery of Social Housing Bundle 1, and expanded its on the ground presence through development hubs in places like Kilkenny, Tullamore, and Ardee.
• Focused energy efficiency and retrofitting: Oaklee’s approach to the continuous improvement of its property portfolio remained consistent with its broader commitment to deliver sustainable, quality housing. The upgrade to LED lighting as well as retrofitting of kitchens and heating systems in older homes emphasising its corporate ambitions to invest wisely, improve existing housing, and achieve value for money, so reflecting its alignment with energy efficiency goals.
• Enhancing resident engagement and support: Oaklee prioritised resident voices, launching a three-year Resident Engagement Strategy in 2023. Crafted with residents and staff, this comprehensive 14 point action plan was designed to amplify resident input across service design and delivery.
• Resident attitudes and sustainability: A recent tenant survey showed that 74% of Oaklee residents value energy efficient homes, this position aligns completely with Oaklee’s mission of delivering homes that serve financial, health, environmental, and social benefits so enhancing resident well being and sustainability. In similar contexts, Oaklee has championed energy-efficient measures such as A-rated developments, renewable technologies, and smart energy systems. For example, The Sidings, Adamstown, includes solar panels, heat pumps, high-performance insulation, and triple-glazed windows.

A forward-looking vision: Strategy 2025-2028

Oaklee’s updated Sustainability Strategy for 2025-2028 sets a bold, flexible, and future-ready path. It aligns low-carbon innovation with community well-being, fostering sustainable, resilient neighbourhoods that honour both people and planet to stay agile in a rapidly evolving policy landscape.

Energy-efficient building design and climate-resilient infrastructure

Oaklee has already demonstrated its commitment to sustainable construction through flagship projects including:

• The Sidings, Adamstown: A model of eco-conscious design, featuring A-rated homes equipped with high-performance insulation, triple-glazed windows, solar panels, heat pumps, and smart energy systems. These measures significantly lower both carbon footprint and energy bills for residents.
• Ashfield, Clonminch, Tullamore: A purpose-built, age-friendly development offering 19 universal-access single‑storey homes. Designed with A3‑rated energy efficiency, photovoltaic panels, thoughtful orientation for optimal solar gain, and shared green spaces that enhance community cohesion
• Cloverhill Lodge, County Dublin: A sustainable, supported housing scheme combining modern design, energy efficiency, and resident well-being. All homes in the project are A-rated, ensuring low environmental impact and reduced living costs

These exemplars show Oaklee’s strategic investment in resilient infrastructure, not just as isolated projects, but as scalable blueprints for future developments.

Raising climate awareness among staff and residents

Education and engagement are cornerstones of Oaklee’s sustainability agenda:

Oaklee continues to enhance community connection through biodiversity-focused enhancements, wildflower meadows, bug hotels, hedgehog sanctuaries, orchards, and more, at developments across Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, and Westmeath. These initiatives were funded through a €250,000 grant from the Housing Finance Agency’s Social Investment Fund, championing both ecological health and social well-being.
These efforts not only foster environmental stewardship but also empower residents and staff as active partners in Oaklee’s climate journey.

Holistic integration with organisational goals

Oaklee’s Sustainability Strategy is embedded within its broader mission and operational fabric:

At the core is Oaklee’s agile, empathetic, and ambitious ethos; delivering secure homes that promote wellbeing and community resilience, reinvesting all surpluses into services, and remaining driven by social purpose rather than profit.

The launch of Oaklee’s new head office in Dublin’s Brunel Building in March 2025 highlights the organisation’s emphasis on innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence – key enablers for delivering on sustainability objectives.

Together, these underline how sustainability is woven into Oaklee’s strategic DNA, from house designs to operational in-office efficiency and community cohesion.

Policy alignment and collaborative climate leadership

The strategy aligns with Europe’s ambition to become the first carbon-neutral continent and adheres to the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities, focusing specifically on climate mitigation and adaptation.
Within the Irish social housing sector, Oaklee’s strategy reflects and responds to the Housing Alliance’s research, “Providing Environmental Leadership in Social Housing to Advance Climate Action Goals.” Commissioned by the Housing Alliance and funded by the Housing Agency, this report emphasises the pivotal role of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in spearheading decarbonisation and recommends collaborative, systemic action

Facing industry challenges together

Both the Housing Alliance and individual AHBs have underscored persistent challenges:

1. Retrofitting finance: Securing adequate funding for upgrading older housing stock remains a critical hurdle
2. Supply chain shortages: Materials, equipment, and skills needed for deep energy retrofits are in limited supply
3. Scaling up efforts: A move is needed from focusing solely on new “nearly zero-energy” (NZEB) homes to investing equally in upgrading existing stock

Oaklee recognises these challenges and commits to an annual review of evolving EU and national policies, ensuring the strategy remains responsive and forward-looking.

Our commitment: For today and tomorrow

Oaklee reaffirms its dedication to:

• Empowering residents through energy-efficient, healthy, and affordable homes
• Staying flexible and proactive in responding to regulatory changes
• Collaborating with AHB peers to scale up decarbonisation efforts and meet Ireland’s 2050 net zero ambitions

This strategy represents not just a policy document, but a shared journey toward a sustainable future; one that safeguards our planet, nurtures communities, and elevates the quality of life for all.

W: www.oaklee.ie