Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s (TII) Green Line extension to Luas Finglas has set a new standard for light rail infrastructure sustainability.
The scheme is the first project in the Republic of Ireland to achieve a BREEAM Infrastructure 6 rating as well as the first transport project in the country to reach an Excellent rating at the Strategy and Design stage. In recognition of the project’s achievements, BREEAM has named Luas Finglas as a finalist under the People & Communities category in its forthcoming awards in September.
BREEAM standards are the world's leading science-based frameworks for assessing, validating and certifying sustainability in the built environment. BREEAM standards cover every stage of the built environment, from design and construction through operation to refurbishment, and can be used anywhere in the world.
Egis was appointed by TII to undertake the Luas Finglas Preliminary Design and Statutory Process. This stage of the proposed Luas Finglas project required Egis to develop a reference design to support a Railway Order Application to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Public Life Tool Assessment
As part of this process, Egis undertook a Public Life Tool Assessment of open spaces along the proposed route to better understand existing patterns of use and identify opportunities to enhance public benefit. This assessment drew on research methodologies developed by Jan Gehl and the Gehl Institute, using data collection techniques to map public life and analyse the physical and social characteristics of public spaces.
The People & Communities category, under which the project has been shortlisted, measures the social value created by development. Its purpose is to ensure infrastructure projects prioritise occupant health, deliver local community benefits, and build consensus through early engagement with both public and private stakeholders.
Luas Finglas demonstrates the wider benefits light rail can deliver beyond transport. The project achieved an Excellent rating of 83.73%, demonstrating strong performance across eight BREEAM categories: Management; Resources (Materials & Waste); Energy & Carbon; Water; Land Use & Ecology; Pollution; Resilience & Adaptation; and People & Communities (Social Value/Stakeholders).
The proposed extension, connecting Broombridge to Finglas, was shaped through extensive stakeholder engagement, gender-sensitive design, and detailed public life analysis to better understand how people interact with the surrounding environment. The scheme integrates accessible transport infrastructure with 70% green track, enhanced cycling routes, and reimagined public spaces that prioritise inclusivity and long-term community benefit.
The extension will improve connectivity for communities in Finglas and Charlestown, support regeneration and economic growth, encourage a shift from private car use to public transport, and integrate walking and cycling infrastructure throughout the corridor. It also places a strong emphasis on accessibility, social inclusion and environmental enhancement, including biodiversity measures and extensive landscaping.
Integrated approach
The project’s recognition as a finalist in the internationally renowned BREEAM Awards reflects the strength of its integrated approach to sustainable infrastructure design, development, and long-term community value. The People & Communities category, under which the project has been shortlisted, measures the social value created by development. Its purpose is to ensure infrastructure projects prioritise occupant health, deliver local community benefits, and build consensus through early engagement with both public and private stakeholders.
David Weldon, head of light rail, Dublin Metropolitan Area, TII said: “BREEAM Infrastructure has played a central role in embedding measurable sustainability outcomes into Luas Finglas from the outset. It has driven a clear focus on carbon, materials and community performance, while fostering strong collaboration across the TII and Egis project team. Achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating reflects TII’s commitment to delivering high quality, sustainable public transport infrastructure that creates long-term value for the communities it will serve.”
Julien Phan Hoang, director of rail from Egis, said: “Achieving an Excellent BREEAM Infrastructure rating is a significant milestone for Luas Finglas and reflects the high sustainability standards embedded throughout its design. Environmental innovation and stakeholder engagement have played a central role in shaping decisions around carbon, biodiversity, materials and the needs of local communities.
"As the first transport project in Ireland to achieve this standard, Luas Finglas sets a new benchmark for sustainable light rail and reflects Egis’ commitment as a designer to delivering infrastructure that creates lasting value for communities and the environment.”