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.

How to Start a Pop-Up Coffee Business in Ireland with a Modular Café Pod

Starting a Coffee Business in Ireland

Opening a café the traditional way — finding a commercial unit, signing a long lease, fitting it out — is expensive and risky. A modular coffee pod flips the model: you own a purpose-built café outright, you can place it almost anywhere, and you start trading in weeks rather than months.

Here is how to start a pop-up coffee business in Ireland with a coffee pod from New Chapter Homes.

Step 1: Choose Your Location

A coffee pod can go almost anywhere with suitable access and permissions:

A busy urban street corner
A park or public space
A shopping centre or retail park
A forecourt or petrol station
A business park or office campus
A tourist site or visitor attraction
An event or festival site

Think about footfall, visibility, parking and access. The beauty of a pod is that — unlike a leased unit — if a location does not work, you can move it.

Step 2: Choose Your Format

New Chapter Homes builds four coffee pod formats:

Takeaway (3×3m) — grab-and-go, lowest cost entry
Dine-in (4×5m) — seating and a fuller menu
Drive-thru (8×4m) — high-volume, on-the-go service
Bespoke (any size) — made to measure for your vision

Choose the format that matches your location, menu and customer flow.

Step 3: Design to Your Brand

Every coffee pod is fully customisable. You choose:

Exterior cladding, colours and signage
Interior layout, lighting and furniture
Commercial coffee machine and refrigeration
Cooking appliances and serving counters
Optional integrated or separate washroom

The result is a café that looks and feels uniquely yours — not a generic unit.

Step 4: Handle Planning

A permanent commercial coffee pod requires planning permission, just like any commercial structure. We guide you through the planning process — or confirm whether an exemption applies — as part of our turnkey service, so you are never navigating it alone.

Step 5: Build and Install

Your pod is manufactured off-site in controlled factory conditions — no weather delays. On-site installation is usually completed in a single day, with foundations, groundworks and service connections handled by our team. From order to a fully installed, ready-to-trade pod typically takes around 8 weeks.

Step 6: Start Trading

Once installed and connected, you start serving. Because you own the pod outright, your ongoing costs are limited to stock, staff and utilities — not commercial rent. As the business grows, you can add seating pods, washroom pods, or even a second trading pod.

The Economics: Pod vs Leased Unit

| | Leased Commercial Unit | Owned Coffee Pod | |---|---|---| | Upfront cost | Fit-out + deposit | Fixed pod price | | Ongoing | Monthly rent (forever) | No rent — you own it | | Asset | None | A permanent structure | | Relocation | Not possible | Possible | | Expansion | New lease | Add another pod |

For most new coffee businesses, the pod pays for itself within a few years compared to renting a commercial unit — and you keep the asset.

Start Your Coffee Business

If you are dreaming of opening a café in Ireland, a modular coffee pod is the smartest way to start. Book a free site survey with New Chapter Homes and we will help you choose the right format, design to your brand, and give you a fixed price to trade.

Explore New Chapter Homes

Coffee Pods for Sale — Turnkey coffee pod solutions
Planning Guide — Planning permission and exemptions explained
Get in Touch — Book a free site survey today