‘Sustainability versus Liveability’: An Exploration of Central City Housing Satisfaction

Issues surrounding central city residential housing have increased in prominence in recent times as a result of the onus on the planning systems of most Western countries to develop a more sustainable development pattern. Similarly to many British and US cities, Dublin in recent times has been successful in attracting large numbers of residents back into new residential developments within the central city. This paper raises questions relating to the long-term sustainability of these areas as residents ultimately express a preference to reside in lower-density locations. In examining what lies behind these residential preferences, this paper focuses on one aspect of individuals’ mobility behaviour: namely housing satisfaction. Results from a logistic model of housing satisfaction indicate that both background variables such as age and ethnicity as well as various design elements of the dwelling unit emerge as significant predictors of overall housing satisfaction within these newly regenerated residential areas.