Irish housing minister visits Irvine timber facility

Ireland’s minister with responsibility for housing, local government and Planning, John Cummins TD, visited the advanced timber frame manufacturing facility as part of the Irish Government’s St Patrick’s Day Global Outreach programme, which sees ministers travel internationally to strengthen economic ties.

The visit took place on 13 March at ATD’s £18 million Irvine facility, which was opened by UK and Ireland timber industry leader Glennon Brothers in 2025. The visit showcased how collaboration between Ireland and Scotland’s forestry and construction sectors can help address housing shortages while reducing the carbon footprint of housebuilding.

Demand for sustainable housing continues to grow across Scotland, where around 95% of new homes are built using timber frame structures, compared with approximately 12% across the rest of the UK. 

Opened in April 2025 by first minister John Swinney, the Irvine facility uses advanced robotics, digital design systems and precision engineering to manufacture timber frame structures from homegrown Scottish timber. The site has the capacity to support the build of up to 2,500 homes per year.

Much of the timber used in the manufacturing process is sourced from forests within a 70-mile radius, processed at Glennon Brothers’ sawmill in Troon and then converted into timber frame homes at the Irvine facility for housing developments across Scotland’s central belt. The facility supplies well-known housebuilders across the country, including Persimmon Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Bellway and Ashleigh Construction.

Founded in 1913 in Longford, Ireland, Glennon Brothers is a third-generation business which now operates four sites in Scotland - Irvine, Troon, East Lothian and Invergordon. The company employs over 350 people, making it one of the most significant Irish employers in Scotland. 

Speaking during the visit, minister Cummins said: “Scotland and Ireland have built a strong reputation for innovation in timber frame construction and modern methods of housebuilding, and facilities such as Alexanders Timber Design show how this expertise can help deliver sustainable homes at scale.

“I recently visited offsite construction facilities and it is great to see innovation driving increased housing delivery. Last year Ireland saw a 20% increase in output to 36,000 homes and 70% of all scheme houses delivered were via MMC, predominantly timber frame construction.

“I want to compliment Glennon Brothers for the work they are doing in Scotland and in Ireland. This facility demonstrates how we can connect forestry, processing and modern methods of construction to build a more resilient housing system that meets the needs of our growing population.“

Jim Patterson, head of timber frame at ATD, added: “Scotland has long been recognised as a leader in timber frame construction and we are proud to support housebuilders across the country with high-quality timber frame solutions.

“By combining locally sourced timber with advanced manufacturing technology, we are helping our customers deliver the homes Scotland needs while reducing the carbon footprint of construction.”

Mike Glennon, joint managing director of Glennon Brothers, said: “Glennon Brothers is a strong example of the circular economy in action. Our approach is built around the principle ‘from forest to front door’, using homegrown timber to manufacture high-quality building products that support the delivery of sustainable homes in our local areas.

“Scotland has long been a leader in timber frame construction. There’s a huge opportunity for the rest of the UK to learn from the expertise that exists here, particularly as the industry looks for new ways to deliver homes more efficiently and sustainably.”