Northern Ireland construction company Oakleaf Contracts has launched a dedicated modular manufacturing division, operating from a 65,000 sq ft facility in the Lancaster area and specialising in the offsite production of fully fitted, custom-built bathroom pods. The move marks a significant expansion of the Magherafelt-headquartered business and has direct implications for contractors and developers seeking to reduce onsite labour and improve quality control in residential, student accommodation, hotel and healthcare construction.

As reported by Northern Ireland World, the pods are built in a controlled factory environment and delivered to site ready for installation, complete with fixtures, fittings, plumbing, electrical components and finishes. The division has already secured a multi-million-pound contract to supply 3,300 modular bathroom pods for a large-scale student accommodation development at a leading English university.

Philip McCoubrey, director at Oakleaf Contracts, said: "The launch of our modular division represents an exciting new chapter for Oakleaf and enables us to combine our award-winning construction expertise with advanced and highly specialised offsite manufacturing capabilities. Offsite construction is playing an increasingly important role in meeting the demands of modern building projects and is an area that we've been looking to develop for some time. Our modular bathroom pods offer significant advantages in terms of reduced onsite labour, improved quality control, minimising risk and supporting sustainability objectives through reduced waste and more efficient manufacturing processes. The fact that we've been able to secure a contract for 3,300 pods so soon after our launch demonstrates both the strength of the opportunity and the confidence clients have in our approach."

Nigel McCarthy, commercial manager at Oakleaf Contracts and head of the new modular division, said the investment underlines the company's commitment to long-term growth and innovation, adding that by introducing modular manufacturing, Oakleaf is broadening its service offering and positioning itself at the forefront of modern construction, providing integrated solutions that combine traditional contracting expertise with advanced manufacturing techniques.

The new division will provide immediate employment for 50 staff in the Lancaster region. Founded in 2000, Oakleaf Contracts employs 90 full-time staff alongside up to 200 sub-contracted workers across its offices in Magherafelt, Dublin and Sheffield. The company's broader capabilities cover interior fit-out, drywall partitions, suspended ceilings, raised access floors, steel framing systems and specialist construction solutions.