The residential construction sector in Dublin is growing at a rapid pace. According to data released by Deloitte, the residential construction activity in Ireland throughout 2021 has already exceeded the pre-pandemic levels. For those involved in the residential construction sector in the country, it is always a good idea to take some time to learn about the innovations and other aspects of residential building design, quality and more.
For those looking to network and learn from some of the leaders in the industry, join us at the Dublin Highrise Resibuild Summit event in Dublin to learn from industry leaders, including Ken Farnon, Director at Cooley Construction Services, Joseph Kilroy, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at CIOB, Pierce Fahy, Associate & Senior Architectural Technologist at Dominic Pike Architects, and Pat Kirwan, Head of MMC Delivery Constructions at C+W O’Brian.
The event will start with a panel discussion, where industry leaders will discuss various topics like the future of the industry and the challenges being faced. Here are some aspects that will be covered in the panel discussion:
Problems Faced by the Irish Residential Construction Sector
In the current scenario, various problems stand to impact the industry in Ireland, including inflation which is running at about 6.7%, the highest it has ever been in the last 22 years. The disruptions due to COVID followed by the war in Ukraine are the significant reasons for this high inflation rate. Additionally, this has also led to a rise in the cost of labour and shortages of materials in the industry.
The Biggest Need of the Irish Residential Construction Sector
According to Pierce Fahy, the largest need of the Irish Construction Sector at the moment is stability and certainty. The last few years haven’t been able to offer either, with the pandemic and now with the current war situation in Europe. This has led to various major problems like the high prices of fuel. Other issues like the skilled labour shortage have also worsened, making it difficult for the industry to move forward at its maximum potential.
Alternative Methods of Construction
To keep up the pace of residential construction, moving to alternative construction methods can significantly help the industry and increase output and the overall quality of construction. This means adding modern methods of construction (MMC) to the mix so that there can be a more significant increase in volume and the prices and time on site can be reduced. Such methods can also help with rising labour prices as semi-skilled labourers can be engaged in production units.
Current and Future Role of MMC in Ireland
MMC has been around for over 40 years as modular buildings were built in London after the war. They are instrumental as they drive significant savings, especially when building high-rises. According to McKinsey, construction companies can save 20-25% by switching to MMC. That could result in huge savings compared with traditional methods of construction, running to anything between £25,000 and £28,000 a week.
Expectations of Residential Construction in Dublin in the Next Few Years
With the current situations around the world, the expectation is that costs will continue to rise over the next 6 to 12 months. This will have consequences on the global supply chain. Additionally, the effects of the war in Ukraine will continue to bring up unexpected problems. However, the Dublin residential sector will look at London and the UK building regulations and incorporate some of the changes into Ireland. Especially with more high-rises being built in the country.
Additionally, there could be a change in the role of the main contractor, with more specialist sub-contractors and manufacturers taking on the part of the principal contractor. Overall, the industry will keep growing, and with elections coming up, residential construction will be a hot topic with plenty of opportunities around funding arrangements.
Sign Up to Unlock Residential Construction in Dublin
For those looking to network and meet industry professionals, book your seat for the Dublin Highrise Resibuild Summit event on May 25th from 09:00 - 16:00 here in Dublin at Guinness Storehouse. The event begins with a cross-industry roundtable discussion with Architects, Cost Consultants, Developers, Assigned Certifiers and more. It is then followed by roundtable discussions and a series of Panel discussions and presentations to educate attendees on residential building design, quality, etc.
If you are unable to make it to the event in Dublin, you can also sign up to watch the live stream here: https://www.resi.build/unlockingresidentialconstruction