Ground Breaks on Ireland’s First 3D Printed Social Housing Project

Louth County Council has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative with the construction of Ireland’s first-ever 3D printed social housing project in Dundalk, County Louth. This project, named Grange Close, represents a significant step forward in sustainable and efficient housing solutions.

The project is a collaborative effort between Louth County Council, Louth & Meath Education & Training Board (LMETB), Harcourt Technologies Ltd (HTL.tech), and Roadstone Ltd. It aims to utilize 3D Construction Printing (3DCP) technology to deliver high-quality and sustainable social housing in a shorter timeframe compared to traditional methods.

The 3DCP technology utilizes large printers to build three-dimensional structures layer by layer on-site. This innovative approach reduces construction time by up to three times, streamlining the process and potentially offering a solution to Ireland’s growing housing shortage.

Joan Martin, chief executive at Louth County Council, said: “Louth County Council is proud to collaborate with LMETB, Harcourt Technologies Ltd (HTL.tech), and Roadstone Ltd to deliver what is a very significant pilot project at Grange Close, Dundalk. The provision of high quality and sustainable social housing is a core objective of Louth County Council, and this project is a significant example of the use of innovative technologies and organisational collaboration in the delivery of new homes.”

Justin Kinsella, MD and co-founder of HTL.tech, said: “Co. Louth is at the forefront of innovative technology aimed at offering a solution to Ireland’s housing shortage, and having grown up in the region, I am immensely proud. This endeavour highlights Louth County Council’s progressive stance towards meeting housing needs and its dedication to promoting sustainable solutions. The transformative potential of this technology is very exciting, offering a viable solution to help address our housing challenges. We’re excited to start the Grange Close project and work with our development partners to create real change.”

Patrick Diviney, commercial manager at Roadstone, said: “Roadstone is a solutions-focused business committed to driving innovation and sustainability. We are delighted to partner with Harcourt Technologies Ltd to offer this future-based approach to construction. Integrating new technology and traditional building materials offers a new era of efficiency and carbon reduction – working towards a sustainable future. Collaboration between Roadstone technical staff and the team at HTL, combined with access to our industry-leading R&D laboratory, has facilitated the development of bespoke RMC designs coupled with an efficient and high-tech modern method of construction.”