Ireland's minister with responsibility for housing, local government and planning, John Cummins TD, has visited Glennon Brothers' advanced timber frame manufacturing facility in Irvine, Scotland, as part of the Irish Government's St Patrick's Day Global Outreach programme, which sends ministers abroad to strengthen economic ties.

Scottish Housing News reported that the visit took place at the £18m (€20.9m) facility, operated under the Alexanders Timber Design (ATD) brand, which was opened by Glennon Brothers in April 2025.

The Irvine facility uses advanced robotics, digital design systems, and precision engineering to manufacture timber frame structures from Scottish timber sourced within a 70-mile radius, processed at Glennon Brothers' sawmill in Troon before conversion into timber frame homes for developments across Scotland's central belt.

The site has capacity to support the build of up to 2,500 homes per year and supplies major housebuilders including Persimmon Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Bellway, and Ashleigh Construction.

Minister Cummins said Scotland and Ireland have built a strong reputation for innovation in timber frame construction and modern methods of housebuilding, noting that Ireland saw a 20% increase in housing output to 36,000 homes last year, with 70% of all scheme houses delivered via modern methods of construction, predominantly timber frame.

Jim Patterson, head of timber frame at ATD, said the facility combines locally sourced timber with advanced manufacturing technology to help customers deliver homes while reducing the carbon footprint of construction.

Mike Glennon, joint managing director of Glennon Brothers, described the company's approach as built around a forest-to-front-door principle, using homegrown timber to manufacture high-quality building products, and identified Scotland's timber frame expertise as a model for the rest of the UK to follow as the industry seeks more efficient and sustainable ways to deliver homes.

Read more on the minister's visit and Glennon Brothers' Scottish timber operations.