Respond, an Approved Housing Body and service provider has announced that their regenerative project, Millfield Cottages, County Cork, developed in partnership with Cork City Council, has been announced as a finalist in the Irish Council for Social Housing Awards, 2025, under the Small Regeneration Project category.
Respond was also nominated as a finalist in two other categories, including:
Millfield Cottages is a sensitive and high-quality social housing regeneration project, comprising 18 two-bedroom social homes, completed in 2024. Tenants moved in that same year.
The scheme includes a mix of terraced and semi-detached houses, designed to blend seamlessly with the architectural heritage of the original 19th-century cottages on the site.
Niamh Randall, spokesperson for Respond said: “We are thrilled to receive this recognition for the regeneration of this project. The team put their heart and souls into this project, proving that we are just as dedicated to bringing life back into communities as we are in building new communities. This is a testament to our values, where we believe community is at the heart of everything we do, and providing homes to those who need them most.
“We are proud of the strong working relationship we have with Cork City Council, enabling us to deliver these lifetime homes for families and individuals who need them. The tenants who are living in these homes have become part of a vibrant community and we hope they are very happy.”
Located on the Red Forge Road in Blackpool, Cork, this urban brownfield site had fallen into disuse following the decline of the nearby Sunbeam Wolsey textile mill, once a major employer in the area. The redevelopment reimagines the terrace as a community once more, with a strong focus on sustainability and community integration.
Each home opens onto a landscaped, pedestrian-only central courtyard that encourages interaction among residents and provides a safe space for children to play. The scheme includes communal bicycle parking, and tenants also benefit from access to a Respond-operated community hub just a short walk away.
Tenants also have direct access to a Respond Tenant Engagement Officer, who regularly visits and checks in on the tenants at Millfield, hosting small community events to bring the tenants together.
