Building Sustainable Communities with Glenveagh

Barnhall Meadows, Leixlip, Co. Kildare

Glenveagh believes that everyone should have access to high-quality homes in flourishing communities and is determined that its contribution to that great endeavour is delivered in context of the highest standards of environmental stewardship and responsible business. Glenveagh’s Sustainability Pillars are built around its people and communities.

The Irish housing market has been undersupplied for many years. The lack of accessible housing is a major inhibiting factor for the Irish economy. Projected employment trends suggest that 300,000 additional dwellings will be needed in Ireland’s urban areas. Glenveagh seeks to accelerate the pace of construction and deliver viable homes. Energy efficient homes help to reduce demand for heating and electricity. EV charging points and cycling and walking paths are included as standard across all developments.

Glenveagh believes in creating sustainable homes and communities. It endeavors to develop environmentally considerate and efficient operations, sustainable and responsible sourcing and to keeping people and local ecosystems safe. Glenveagh’s current CO2 emissions reduction target for 2025 is 25%.

• 72%* of Glenveagh homes are priced below the new home median. *(Core Glenveagh homes compared to GDA and Cork)

• 100% of Glenveagh homes have a BER energy rating of A2 or better.

SO 14001 – the international standard for environmental management – is now being integrated into Glenveagh’s operations with a view to achieving certification in 2021. As part of this process Glenveagh has developed and documented a comprehensive Environmental Management System. Glenveagh supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is currently in the process of identifying those goals most relevant to Glenveagh and where the biggest impact can be made. According to Glenveagh’s CEO Stephen Garvey these are steppingstones on the journey towards the goal of industry leading standards of environmental and social responsibility.

The company focus at Glenveagh is on three core markets – suburban housing, urban apartments and partnerships with local authorities and state agencies. Since IPO Glenveagh has opened 23 sites, delivering more than 1,800 units (700 in 2020) with 1,150 in the pipeline for 2021. Glenveagh devotes the majority of its portfolio to the first-time-buyers (FTB) segment giving more people access to new homes by building at scale and by keeping prices below the industry average for new-build homes. The national median new home price for 2020 was €385k whereas Glenveagh’s median price was €340k*. (Source Property Price Register)

Over the next 24 months Glenveagh will fully implement ISO 9001 Quality Management System standards. This will drive quality and consistency in build quality across all Glenveagh sites. Glenveagh has a dedicated head of quality and quality team, quality control is audited internally and validated by third party consultants. In response to the Covid-19 travel restrictions and safety concerns, Glenveagh developed a digital strategy to allow contactless, online and private viewing with their agents. By using the most advanced CGI technology Glenveagh will introduce virtual home tours for developments ahead of construction allowing customers to confidently buy off plans.

Bringing diversity to the construction industry is a pointo of pride at Glenveagh, 24% of Glenveagh’s staff are female compared to a 9% industry average. In 2020 Glenveagh signed the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Diversity Charter with the aim of achieving the Bronze Standard, and plan to join the 30% Club Ireland with the goal of improving gender balance at all levels within the organisation.

Kildare - Heart of the Glenveagh Community

Glenveagh recently sponsored the Kilcock Wheelers cycling club in support of their ‘Sports & Fitness’ community activations for the Ledwill Park Development.

They are also donating an Automatic External Defibrillator unit to local first responders at the Gables Leisure Centre in Newbridge. There will be many to come as Glenveagh expands its community strategy across other sites in Kildare.

Sports and outdoor activities are a vital part of any community. Glenveagh seeks out sponsorships that contribute to community-based sporting life. The Kilcock Wheelers sponsorship is the first of many more sponsorships to come in Kildare.

Newbridge - Charitable Giving

Glenveagh’s approach to charitable giving works at both the national and local level. It works with national partnerships designed to maximise the impact on local communities.

The charity partners chosen for 2021 were based on the shared ethos to directly assist those who need support most in our communities, children and older people. Working with Jack & Jill and ALONE allows Glenveagh the opportunity to positively impact people’s lives on a national scale, while also driving efforts in local communities and assisting those living in these local areas.

Stephen Garvey, CEO of Glenveagh Properties, said:

“In the past year we have all learned, more than ever, the importance of family and friends and that’s what community is really all about, making connections with those that live around us. Our investment in the building lasting communities initiative is focused on enhancing the lives of our residents and the wider community, in places where we build and right across Ireland. It is core to our Glenveagh values and something the entire team is proud to be part of.”

The Glenveagh community team is working with Jack & Jill to assist with the re-opening of a charity shop in Newbridge where they are planning a Glenveagh staff shop takeover and a furniture upcycling day to support the reopening.

Carmel Doyle, CEO of Jack & Jill, said:

“It’s fantastic to be chosen by Glenveagh for this charity partnership which is all about investing in and supporting local communities by supporting local Jack & Jill families when they need it most. The fundraising initiatives we’ve planned together will make a big difference, translating into specialist home nursing care hours for children with life limiting conditions in communities, across the country”.

CASE STUDY: Greencare by Glenveagh

The Greencare team is a new iteration of Glenveagh’s former ‘maintenance team’. However, in addition to the general upkeep of its developments and landscaping duties Greencare will directly support the Glenveagh sustainability initiatives and ESG criteria.

The name ‘Greencare’ captures Glenveagh’s commitment to supporting biodiversity and native pollinators. You might recognise them on-site in the branded vehicles below!

The Greencare team aims to facilitate environmental stewardship in Glenveagh developments by:

• Planting native wildflower seeds in designated bio-diversity zones.

• Erecting signage to raise awareness among residents & foster a sense of environmental stewardship in Glenveagh communities.

• Maintaining bio-diversity zones into maturity to support our invaluable pollinators.

Biodiversity zones are designated areas of natural greenspace where they sow native plants and wildflowers. They are important because our native insects have co-evolved with native flowering plants, and so they respond their colour, scent, size and location. They thrive on a particular suite of species and in turn insect life plays a key role in the larger food web through pollination of plants and crops.

Kildare is a special location for Glenveagh as the head office is located in Maynooth. It has two existing developments in Kildare, Ledwill Park in Kilcock and Barnhall Meadows in Leixlip, it is also working on several new developments across Kildare in Newbridge and Kildare Town.

With such a concentration of developments, Kildare will be an important case study for Glenveagh. As it plans for community activations across four developments, Glenveagh hopes to make a lasting positive impact on community spirit throughout Kildare.