CIOB among industry partners at MMC National Conference which emphasised key themes for meeting housing challenges
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Chaired by Darren Richards of Cogent Consulting, the conference provided a timely snapshot of a sector transitioning from innovation to implementation. Strong government engagement underscored the importance of MMC in addressing Ireland’s housing crisis. Contributions from Minister James Browne and Minister Marian Harkin highlighted the central role of industrialised construction in delivering the volume, quality and sustainability of housing required.
Key themes included the need for procurement reform, pipeline certainty and stronger collaboration between public sector clients and industry. There was also a clear emphasis on workforce transformation, with industrialised construction requiring new skills in digital design, manufacturing and assembly.
Encouragingly, both ministers acknowledged that the Irish MMC sector is now aligned with national housing ambitions, signalling a shift from policy intent to practical delivery.
Housing delivery and standardisation
Housing was at the centre of discussions throughout the conference. Ireland faces significant pressure to deliver homes at scale while maintaining design quality, affordability and sustainability. Speakers widely agreed that traditional construction methods alone will not meet these demands.
Instead, MMC and industrialised construction are increasingly seen as essential to improving productivity and delivery certainty. However, scaling these approaches requires a balance between standardisation and architectural quality - a theme that resonated across multiple sessions.
Standardisation emerged as a critical enabler of MMC adoption. Presentations demonstrated how repeatable design systems, platform-based approaches and manufacturing-ready detailing can unlock significant productivity gains. Research initiatives, including work led by Construct Innovate, are already advancing standardised systems for timber and light steel frame construction, supporting greater consistency and scalability.
Learning from experience and building capability
The conference also reflected on lessons learned from the UK’s MMC journey, particularly the challenges associated with over-reliance on volumetric modular systems. Ireland is increasingly adopting a more balanced approach, favouring panelised systems that offer greater flexibility and scalability for housing delivery.
Skills and workforce capacity were identified as critical challenges. The transition to industrialised construction requires new competencies in factory-based manufacturing, digital design, automation and quality assurance. Encouragingly, several initiatives are underway to develop training pathways and strengthen collaboration between industry and education providers.
Procurement, pipeline and industry collaboration
A recurring theme throughout the day was the importance of procurement reform and pipeline certainty. Without consistent demand, manufacturers face significant risk in scaling production. Delegates highlighted the need for aggregated demand, long-term frameworks and standardised housing solutions to support investment in manufacturing capacity.
Interactive audience polling reinforced these priorities, identifying procurement reform, workforce development and regulatory clarity as key areas for action.
The MMC Ireland National Conference 2026 demonstrated a sector gaining confidence and maturity, with strong alignment between government, industry and research. However, delivering Ireland’s housing ambitions will require sustained momentum and continued collaboration across the value chain.
With increasing engagement, growing capability and a clear focus on industrialised delivery, Ireland is well positioned to accelerate the adoption of MMC - moving from pilot projects to scalable, repeatable housing delivery.
