Standardised housing design to reduce costs and optimise housing delivery
- Published on: 3 October 2025
- Last updated on: 3 October 2025
Modern Methods of Construction key to maximising sustainability and maintaining quality in standardised design
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD emphasised the great potential for modern methods of construction to maximise homebuilding today, as he welcomed the findings of a new “Standardised Design Approaches Study”.
The study is intended to raise awareness and actively promote the adoption of standardised housing design including layouts, construction methodology, building services and building components, which can reduce costs and promote Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), while also maximising sustainability and maintaining quality. A copy of the report can be accessed here: Standardised design approaches study
Minister Browne said:
“Standardisation brings many great benefits across all stages of the delivery of new homes – from design to construction to long-term management. The findings of this new study will be of considerable benefit to the construction industry, providing detailed guidance to construction professionals, developers, contractors, clients, designers and manufacturers, as well as educators, and training bodies.
“By adopting the methods and approaches detailed in this report, it is possible for the residential construction sector to see their pipelines, projects and programmes become more streamlined – ensuring cost savings.
“We need a cultural change in how we deliver housebuilding in Ireland if we are to meet the urgency and scale of the challenge that faces us. Modern methods of construction provide an important part of that change and today’s study is a valuable contribution to improving how we provide more good quality homes efficiently and quickly.”
Standardisation plays a critical role across various industries by establishing uniform processes, systems, and components that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall quality. Standardisation fosters consistency and reliability while simplifying operations.
Specifically, today’s study took a model design approach, developing five model designs to demonstrate cost-efficient design, optimised for MMC and applicable to the private and public sector.
Throughout the study, extensive stakeholder engagement took place with key industry and government representatives to ensure the outcomes of the study align with current and future housing needs in Ireland.
The Standardised Design Approaches Study was commissioned by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage - undertaken, on their behalf, by a consultant team led by Hawkins Brown Architects.
The study complements actions being undertaken in the Roadmap for Increased Adoption of MMC in Public Housing Delivery
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