Louth County Council delivers Ireland’s first 3D-printed houses

The first residential housing development constructed using 3D Construction Technology (3DCP) has been completed by Louth County Council.

The infill housing development at Grange Close, Dundalk, Co. Louth, consists of three A2-rated, two-storey, three-bedroom terraced houses, each with a gross internal area of 110m². This innovative pilot project is the result of a collaboration between Louth County Council, Irish construction technology company HTL.tech, the Louth & Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB), Roadstone Ltd and Harcourt Architects. 

In the coming weeks, three families will move into these homes, marking a significant milestone as the first residents of 3D-printed homes in Ireland or the UK. 

The houses were built using market-leading COBOD 3D construction printing technology, which automates the concrete laying process. This method offers significant advantages, including reduced construction time and costs, enhanced structural integrity, and more efficient resource use. 

The project comes at a crucial time when demand for quality, affordable housing far exceeds supply, highlighting the need for alternative Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and cutting-edge technology to address the housing crisis.

An official launch event took place at Grange Close on Thursday 6 February, attended by Louth County Council Chief Executive, David Conway and An Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Kevin. The event formally opened the homes for three families from Louth County Council’s housing list.

_{Below: Cllr Kevin Callan, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, cuts the ribbon to officially launch the new residential housing development at Grange Close, Dundalk}

David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, stated: "Louth County Council welcomes the completion of these new, A2-rated houses, which will provide comfortable homes for three families, and I wish the new residents the very best for the future.

"The quality of the units and the impressive build duration are a testament to the successful collaboration between Louth County Council, HTL.tech, the LMETB, Roadstone Ltd and Harcourt Architects. The provision of high-quality, sustainable housing remains a key objective for Louth County Council, and this project demonstrates how innovation and partnership can help us achieve that goal."

Cllr Kevin Callan, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, added: "This is a landmark day for County Louth. Our local authority continues to lead the way in housing development, surpassing targets and delivering homes through innovation. I have no doubt this project will serve as a model for similar initiatives across the country.

"I extend my gratitude to all involved, particularly our housing section, management team, and the housing directorate. At a time of increasing housing demand, we are making real progress, further solidifying Louth’s reputation as a prime location to live, work, and thrive."

Construction of the three houses at Grange Close began in May 2024 and was completed in November of the same year. The printed superstructures were completed in just 12 print days, with a total on-site machine time of 18 working days. This demonstrates the effectiveness of Additive Construction (AC) technology, which reduced overall construction timelines by more than 35%.

_{Below: L-R: Justin Kinsella, Managing Director & Co-Founder of Harcourt Technologies Ltd, David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, Cllr Kevin Callan, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Ger Murphy, Director of Services, Louth County Council and Martin O’Brien, Chief Executive of Louth & Meath Education and Training Board}

Justin Kinsella, Managing Director & Co-Founder of Harcourt Technologies Ltd, highlighted the project’s impact: "Louth County Council is a progressive, forward-thinking local authority, and it has been a pleasure to work in partnership with the council to deliver this project.

"We’ve successfully demonstrated the benefits of the technology in delivering a traditional and trusted concrete cavity wall construction with remarkable efficiency—60% faster than conventional methods and reducing the overall project delivery timeline by 35%. Thanks to our partnership with Roadstone Ltd, we’re now positioned to scale up this solution across Ireland and contribute to the much-needed supply of robust, cost-effective, and sustainable housing throughout the country.”

A key factor in the project's success was the involvement of the Louth & Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB), which provided critical training and upskilling for workers in 3D construction printing technology. 

Martin O’Brien, Chief Executive of Louth & Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB), said: “The Grange Close project is a testament to what can be achieved when forward-thinking ideas and collaborative efforts come together. The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE) has delivered short, introductory training in 3D Construction printing to over 100 learners to date, with the development of accredited training well underway.

"We are proud to play a central role in delivering Ireland's first 3D printed homes, which will provide much-needed housing to families in Louth.”

The award-winning project has received the ‘Standards Innovation Award’ from the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) and was also shortlisted for the Irish Climate Change Leadership Awards (ICCLA) in the Green Building Project category.

Furthermore, the homes are fully BCaR-compliant and received their Certificates of Compliance upon completion from Louth County Council’s Building Control in December 2024.