Rory Hearne TD: ‘The case for a state construction company’
11th September 2026
Translating EU housing interventions nationally
11th September 2026Building smarter: Modern methods supporting housing delivery
Oldtown Manor, Cavan Town, where 26 new family homes are being delivered through a partnership between North and East Housing Association, Cavan County Council, Aghafad Developments and Framespace.
As Ireland seeks to increase housing supply while maintaining quality, sustainability, and value for money, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation.
In Cavan, one development provides a practical example of what that means on the ground, helping to address demand for social family homes while aligning with MMC objectives under the Government’s Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 plan and Programme for Government.
At Oldtown Manor, on the outskirts of Cavan Town, North and East Housing Association (NEHA), Cavan County Council, Aghafad Developments, and Framespace have come together to deliver 26 two- and three-bedroom turnkey homes using Light Gauge Steel (LGS) construction. The scheme is being funded through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and Housing Finance Agency (HFA) funding.
While modest in scale, Oldtown Manor demonstrates how modern construction methods can support housing delivery in regional Ireland, and how collaboration between housing bodies, local authorities, developers, and manufacturers can bring new homes from design to delivery.
Rather than replacing traditional construction, MMC provides an enhanced approach that can improve efficiency, quality assurance, and programme certainty.
From factory floor to family home
The homes at Oldtown Manor are being delivered using the Framespace Light Gauge Steel Building System, an NSAI-certified system combining off-site manufacturing with on-site assembly. Structural wall and floor panels are manufactured in a controlled factory environment before being transported to site for installation.
Moving a significant portion of construction into a factory setting can improve quality control, reduce material waste, and minimise delays associated with weather and site conditions.
For developers and housing providers, the potential benefit is not simply speed, but greater predictability throughout the delivery process.
For Micheál Keohane, Aghafad Developments’ representative, the evolution of MMC is helping reshape how housing can be delivered in Ireland.
“Ireland’s housing challenge requires us to think differently about how we design and build homes. Modern Methods of Construction combine the efficiencies of manufacturing with the quality expectations of modern housing delivery. Projects such as Oldtown Manor show that MMC has become a practical solution capable of supporting the delivery of sustainable, high-quality homes at scale.”
Factory-manufactured wall panels used in the delivery of Oldtown Manor, demonstrating how off-site construction can combine modern manufacturing techniques with traditional housing finishes.
MMC in practice
The value of MMC is perhaps best understood through the homes it ultimately delivers rather than through construction processes alone.
At Oldtown Manor, the 26 homes comprise a mix of two-bedroom terraced units and three-bedroom semi-detached and detached houses. They have been designed to achieve high levels of energy efficiency and include air-to-water heat pumps and modern ventilation systems.
Importantly, there is little to distinguish the completed homes from those constructed using more traditional methods. Residents benefit from the same standards of design, comfort, and durability, while the development team benefits from the efficiencies associated with off-site manufacturing.
Oldtown Manor is not a prototype or demonstration project, but a residential development responding to real housing need.
The development also highlights the importance of partnership. Housing bodies, local authorities, developers, and manufacturers each bring different expertise to the delivery process, helping to turn innovative construction approaches into practical turnkey housing solutions.
According to Ramona McAvenue, Cavan County Council: “Oldtown Manor demonstrates the value of collaboration between local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, and the private sector in delivering much-needed homes. Through our partnership with North and East Housing Association and the wider project team, we are helping to provide high-quality family homes in Cavan Town. While modern methods of construction supported delivery, the true measure of success is the creation of sustainable communities and opportunities for families to access secure, long-term housing.”
Beyond a single development
For NEHA, Oldtown Manor forms part of a broader approach to housing delivery. The organisation has identified MMC and sustainability innovation as important elements of its development strategy and is currently advancing a number of schemes incorporating modern construction approaches.
NEHA sees potential benefits in programme certainty, predictable costs, and the ability to scale successful delivery models across multiple locations.
According to Pat Costelloe, Development Manager with NEHA: “Modern methods of construction are becoming a practical delivery tool for housing providers across Ireland. Their value lies in programme certainty, consistent quality, and the ability to replicate successful models across multiple locations. Oldtown Manor demonstrates that MMC can be successfully applied to mainstream housing developments while delivering homes that integrate naturally into existing communities.”
Sustainability and long-term performance
Sustainability is also increasingly influencing how new housing is designed, constructed, and operated.
At Oldtown Manor, modern construction methods are combined with highly insulated building systems, air-to-water heat pumps, and efficient ventilation systems to support strong environmental performance.
John Martyn, Interim CEO of NEHA, believes the conversation around sustainability must consider outcomes for residents as well as environmental performance.
“Sustainability in housing extends beyond energy ratings and building regulations. It is about creating homes that are efficient to operate, comfortable to live in, and built for long-term performance. Modern Methods of Construction can support these objectives by reducing waste, improving quality assurance, and helping deliver highly energy-efficient homes.”
Looking ahead
Oldtown Manor is a local housing development serving a local community, but the experience in Cavan also provides a useful example for the wider housing sector.
As Ireland works to increase housing supply while responding to growing demand and climate challenges, developments such as Oldtown Manor demonstrate how MMC can complement traditional construction approaches while continuing to deliver quality, durable homes.
The lesson from Cavan is not that one construction method provides the answer to Ireland’s housing needs. Rather, it demonstrates the value of broadening the approaches available to the sector and applying them where they can deliver results.
At Oldtown Manor, modern construction methods, strong partnerships, and a focus on long-term performance have come together to deliver high-quality homes while demonstrating how MMC can support housing supply in Ireland.
