How much does a modular home cost in Ireland?

Modular homes in Ireland from New Chapter Homes start from approximately €45,000 depending on the model and specification. Our Chapter One, Two and Three series offer different sizes and finishes to suit a range of budgets.

Do modular homes in Ireland need planning permission?

Planning requirements depend on the proposed use, size, location and circumstances of the property. A permanent modular home used as a dwelling generally requires planning permission. Certain developments may qualify for an exemption, subject to all applicable conditions. Customers should obtain site-specific advice from their local authority or planning professional.

How long does it take to build a modular home?

Modular homes from New Chapter Homes are typically manufactured within 8–12 weeks (indicative) and installed on site within a few days, depending on groundworks, site preparation, planning, and specification.

Do you supply garden rooms in Kildare?

Yes, New Chapter Homes is based in Naas, Co. Kildare and supplies garden rooms, garden studios and modular buildings across Kildare and nationwide.

Can I finance a modular home in Ireland?

Indicative finance options may be available from €200 per week (subject to status and lender approval) through our finance partners, with deposits from 10% and indicative approval timelines of 48–72 hours. Self-employed applicants are welcome. First-time buyers may also qualify for the Help-to-Buy grant (subject to scheme eligibility). Indicative prices cover the turnkey building, delivery and installation; site-specific works are assessed after the site survey and identified separately in the written quotation.

What is the difference between a modular home and a prefab home in Ireland?

Modular homes and prefab homes are often used interchangeably in Ireland. Both are built in a factory and transported to site. New Chapter modular homes are fully fitted — including kitchen, bathroom, plumbing, and electrical fit-out — and are built to the same building regulations (BCAR, Part L, Part B) as traditional homes, with an A-rated BER certificate.

Are modular homes energy efficient in Ireland?

New Chapter modular homes are designed for A-rated BER performance, with premium insulation, heat pump heating, and airtight construction. Actual BER performance depends on final specification and is confirmed on completion. Actual energy savings depend on usage, specification and the property being compared.

Can I put a modular home in my garden in Ireland?

Planning requirements depend on the proposed use, size, location and circumstances of the property. A permanent modular home used as a dwelling generally requires planning permission. Certain smaller garden structures may qualify for an exemption, subject to all applicable conditions. Customers should obtain site-specific advice from their local authority or planning professional.

How long does it take to install a modular home in Ireland?

A New Chapter modular home is typically manufactured in our factory in approximately 8–12 weeks (indicative), then installed on your site within 1–2 days using a crane. The total timeline from order to handover is typically 10–16 weeks (indicative), depending on site preparation, planning, and specification.

Do Irish banks give mortgages on modular homes?

Modular homes built to building regulations and appropriately certified may be mortgageable, subject to individual lender criteria. We can advise on what lenders typically require and introduce you to finance partners. Indicative finance options may also be available from €200/week (subject to status and lender approval).

Do you build modular homes in Kildare?

Yes. New Chapter Homes is based in Naas, County Kildare, and builds luxury modular homes, sustainable garden pods and affordable housing across all of Kildare — including Naas, Newbridge, Kildare Town, Maynooth, Athy, Leixlip, Celbridge, Kilcock, Kilcullen, Johnstown, Sallins, Clane and everywhere in between. Our display village in Johnstown, Naas is coming soon — register your interest to be notified when it opens.

Do you build modular homes in Dublin?

Yes. New Chapter Homes designs, manufactures and installs luxury modular homes, sustainable garden pods and affordable housing across Dublin city and county — including Rathcoole, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Lucan, Blanchardstown, Swords, Malahide, Howth, Dun Laoghaire, Blackrock, Stillorgan, Dundrum, Rathfarnham, Castleknock, Clontarf and every area in between. A-rated, fully fitted homes from €45,000 (€200/week), installed in 6–10 weeks.

How much does a modular home cost in Kildare or Dublin?

Modular homes in Kildare and Dublin start from €45,000 for our Chapter Three compact home, with our two-bedroom Chapter One from €80,000 and bespoke family homes from €220,000. Indicative prices cover the fully fitted interior, delivery, installation, and certification. Indicative finance options may be available from €200/week (subject to status). Foundations, groundworks, service connections and other site-specific works are assessed after the site survey and identified separately in the written quotation.

Can I get a garden room in Kildare or Dublin without planning permission?

Planning requirements depend on the proposed use, size, location and circumstances of the property. Certain garden rooms and smaller modular units may qualify for an exemption, subject to all applicable conditions. Customers should obtain site-specific advice from their local authority or planning professional. New Chapter Homes can advise on your specific site in Kildare or Dublin — contact us for a free assessment.

Back Garden Office Ireland: Complete Guide to Garden Offices

Back Garden Offices in Ireland: The Complete Guide

A back garden office is one of the smartest investments an Irish homeowner can make. Instead of a daily commute or a cramped corner of the spare room, a dedicated garden office gives you a quiet, professional workspace steps from your back door — adding usable square footage to your property without extending the main house.

This guide covers everything you need to know about garden offices in Ireland: costs, sizes, insulation, year-round comfort, electricity and broadband, design options, foundations, planning considerations, and why turnkey modular construction from New Chapter Homes is the preferred way to build one. See our garden office pods range, or explore our complete Garden Pods Ireland hub for the full garden pod and garden room collection.

What Is a Back Garden Office?

A back garden office is a freestanding, insulated building in your garden, designed for use as a workspace. Unlike a basic shed or summerhouse, a proper garden office is insulated, wired for electricity, fitted with heating and broadband, and built to be used comfortably all year round — not just in summer.

Modern garden offices are used as:

Home offices for remote and hybrid workers
Studios for artists, designers, photographers and musicians
Treatment rooms for therapists, beauticians and consultants
Consulting or meeting rooms for client-facing professionals
Study or learning spaces for students and older children

A modular garden office from New Chapter Homes is built off-site in factory conditions and installed in your garden in a matter of days — fully finished, wired and ready to use.

Garden Office Sizes

Garden offices come in a range of sizes to suit different gardens and uses. The right size depends on how you will use the space and how much room you have:

| Size | Typical Use | Indicative Turnkey Price | |------|-------------|------------------------| | ~10–15 m² | Compact single-person office | from €35,000 | | ~20 m² | Garden office / home office | from €35,000 | | ~25 m² | Large office or studio | from €35,000 | | ~35 m² | Office + meeting area / dual-use | from €45,000 | | ~45 m² | Large garden room / annexe | from €60,000 |

Most garden offices are between 15 m² and 25 m² — large enough for a desk, seating and storage, but compact enough to fit comfortably in a standard suburban garden. For the full modular price breakdown, see our Modular Homes Ireland Prices guide.

Insulation and Year-Round Use

The single biggest difference between a proper garden office and a cheap shed is insulation. A New Chapter Homes garden office is built to the same insulation standards as our modular homes, so it is genuinely usable in every season — not just on mild days.

Our garden offices include:

High-performance wall, roof and floor insulation — keeping heat in during winter and out during summer.
Airtight construction — factory-applied air-sealing prevents draughts and heat loss.
Double or triple glazing — argon-filled, low-E units for thermal performance.
A BER-rated envelope — strong energy performance and low running costs.

The result is a workspace that stays warm in January and cool in July, with heating costs of just a few euros a week. See our Specifications page for full U-value and insulation detail.

Electricity, Heating and Broadband

A garden office is only useful if it is properly serviced. Every New Chapter Homes garden office is wired and connected as part of the turnkey installation:

Electricity — full electrical first-fix and second-fix, with sockets, lighting and consumer unit, connected to your mains supply.
Heating — electric panel heating or infrared panels, sized for the space. Because the office is so well insulated, a small heater is all you need.
Broadband — a hardwired ethernet or Wi-Fi extender connection from your main house, so you have full-speed internet for video calls and large file transfers.
Lighting — LED downlights or spot lighting, with options for task and ambient lighting.

We handle the service connections as part of the installation, so your office is ready to work in from day one.

Design Options

A modular garden office is far from a one-size-fits-all box. Because each unit is built to order, you can tailor the design to your garden and your work style:

Layout — open-plan, or divided into a main office and a small meeting or storage area.
External cladding — timber, composite, or render finishes to match or complement your main house.
Roof — flat membrane roof for a modern look, or pitched for a more traditional feel.
Glazing — full-height glazing, bi-fold doors, or a single entrance door with side windows.
Interior finish — plastered and painted, or timber-lined, with flooring from vinyl to engineered wood.
Extras — built-in storage, shelving, desks, air conditioning, or a small kitchenette.

Explore our garden rooms and pods for inspiration, or book a free site survey to discuss a bespoke design.

Foundations and Installation

A garden office needs proper foundations — not just paving slabs. We assess your ground conditions and install appropriate foundations (concrete pads, ground screws, or a steel frame) as part of the turnkey package.

Because the office is built in the factory, on-site work is minimal:

Site preparation and foundations — usually 1–2 days on site.
Delivery — the finished office is transported to your garden.
Crane lift and installation — the unit is craned into position and made weathertight in a few hours.
Connection and handover — electricity, heating and broadband are connected, and the office is handed over ready to use.

The total on-site time is typically 2–4 days, with minimal disruption to your home and garden.

Planning Considerations for Garden Offices in Ireland

Whether a garden office needs planning permission depends on its size, height, position and intended use. As with all planning matters, the answer depends on your specific site and local authority.

When might an exemption apply?

Under Ireland's exempted development regulations, a garden room or office up to 30 m² at the rear of a house may qualify for a planning exemption, provided it meets strict conditions on height, position and use. The unit must be ancillary to the main dwelling — used by the household in connection with the house, not as a separate self-contained dwelling. From 27 July 2026, a separate Class 3A exemption also allows a detached auxiliary dwelling of 32–45 m² in a rear garden, subject to conditions — see our 45m² planning exemption guide for the detail.

When is planning permission required?

Planning permission is generally required if the garden office:

Exceeds the exempted size limit (30 m² under the general garden-structure exemption)
Is to be used as a separate self-contained dwelling or rented out independently
Is in a protected structure, an Architectural Conservation Area, or a site with other restrictions
Is positioned forward of the house or exceeds height limits

We strongly recommend confirming the position for your site with your local authority. Our Planning Guide and 45 m² Planning Exemption guide set out the detail, and we handle planning applications as part of our service.

The Advantages of Modular Construction

A modular garden office is built off-site in a controlled factory environment, then transported and installed in your garden. Compared to a traditional on-site build, the advantages are significant:

Speed — manufacture takes 8–12 weeks; on-site installation is completed in days, not months.
No disruption — no muddy building site, no tradespeople in and out of your home for weeks.
Quality — factory conditions mean consistent insulation, precise joins and detailed air-sealing that are hard to achieve on an exposed site.
Fixed price — the price is agreed before manufacture begins, so there are no budget overruns.
Relocatable — because it is modular, a garden office can be moved or repositioned if your needs change.

This is why modular construction has become the standard way to build a garden office in Ireland. Learn more about our modular approach on our Modular Homes Ireland page.

How Much Does a Garden Office Cost?

The cost of a modular garden office depends on size, specification, groundworks and site access. Because the building is factory-built, the building price is fixed before manufacture begins — the main variable is the groundworks on your specific site.

Indicative turnkey prices range from €35,000 for a compact 10–15 m² office to €60,000+ for a large 45 m² garden room. Groundworks and service connections are quoted after a site survey.

Flexible finance options are available — estimate your weekly payments with our Finance Calculator.

Why Choose New Chapter Homes?

New Chapter Homes builds premium, turnkey garden offices and garden rooms across Ireland. Because we design, manufacture and install under one roof, you deal with a single builder from first sketch to handover — one fixed price, one point of contact, and no gap between the people who build your office and the people who install it.

Every garden office is:

Fully insulated and airtight — genuinely usable all year round
Wired and connected — electricity, heating and broadband ready to go
BER-rated — strong energy performance and low running costs
Turnkey — delivered, installed and handed over ready to use
Warrantied — built to the same standards as our modular homes

If you are considering a back garden office, the next step is a free site survey. We will visit your property, assess access and ground conditions, advise on planning, and give you a written, fixed-price quotation.

Book a free site survey with the New Chapter Homes team, or explore our garden office pods and Pods Ireland pages to learn more.

Key Garden Office Resources

Explore garden pods — our dedicated garden pods and garden rooms authority page.
View Chapter Three — Compact — compact garden pod (18–28 m², from €45,000).
View Chapter Two — Studio pod — studio garden pod (27–38 m², from €65,000).
Read our planning guide — planning permission for garden offices and pods.
45m² planning exemption guide — does your garden office qualify for the exemption?
See modular home prices — indicative pricing for garden pods and rooms.

Garden Office FAQs

Do I need planning permission for a garden office in Ireland?

A garden office up to 30 m² at the rear of your house may qualify for a planning exemption under certain strict conditions. Larger offices, or offices used as a separate dwelling, generally need planning permission. From 27 July 2026, a separate Class 3A exemption may allow a detached auxiliary dwelling of 32–45 m² — see our 45m² planning exemption guide. Always confirm with your local authority.

Can I use a garden office all year round?

Yes. A New Chapter Homes garden office is fully insulated, airtight and heated, so it is genuinely comfortable in every season — not just in summer.

How long does a garden office take to install?

Manufacture takes 8–12 weeks in the factory. On-site installation is typically completed in 2–4 days, with handover ready to use.

Does a garden office add value to my property?

Yes. A high-quality, insulated garden office adds usable square footage and is a genuine selling point for remote and hybrid workers. Because it is modular, it can also be relocated if you move.

Can I customise the design?

Yes. Each garden office is built to order and can be tailored in layout, cladding, glazing, roofing and interior finish to suit your garden and your work style.