A bricklaying robot in County Durham is marking the start of a new chapter in UK housebuilding.
Known as WLTR, or “Walter”, the wall-laying robot is currently constructing 27 homes in Durham as part of a scheme led by JT Lifestyle Homes. Developed in the Czech Republic in partnership with GreenBuild, Walter is intended to help address the acute shortage of bricklayers across the country.
Dr Jan Telensky, founder and owner of JT Lifestyle Homes, explained:
“The construction industry is currently facing severe labour shortages at a time when the government wishes to deliver 1.5 million more homes.
“There are simply not enough bricklayers entering the trade to keep up with demand for affordable homes, so we must find new solutions.”
Capable of laying up to 200 square metres of masonry per day, far exceeding human productivity, Walter can construct walls up to 3.5 metres high without scaffolding, with plans to extend this to five metres. The robot is designed to operate in all weather conditions, including wind, rain, and extreme temperatures.
With more than 35,000 vacancies across the construction sector, JT Lifestyle Homes believes Walter can help relieve workforce pressures and accelerate delivery of new housing. Dr Telensky noted that the industry’s average worker age is 46, with too few young people entering the trades, and stressed that automation should complement, not replace, human labour.
Dr Telensky added:
“The construction industry has an ageing workforce, with an average age of 46, and unfortunately not enough young people are looking for trade jobs.
“The government has ambitious plans for growth and housing and we simply don’t have the manpower that’s needed.
“Robot Walter’s cutting-edge technology has the potential to ease the burden and also create new, highly-skilled jobs for operators who will still be needed to oversee projects.
“As well as building faster, intelligent monitoring means Robot Walter’s bricks are laid with ultimate precision which will enhance the overall build quality.”
The Durham development will be offered through JT Lifestyle Homes’ rent-to-buy scheme, enabling first-time buyers to use rental payments to build a deposit. Dr Telensky, recipient of the 2022 Dahrendorf Responsible Capitalism Award, reaffirmed his commitment to providing affordable housing, adding:
“I am committed to providing affordable housing in the UK. With innovative building techniques and an innovative rent to buy scheme we can set people free from a lifetime of renting.”
JT Lifestyle Homes intends to deploy Walter on future projects, which currently include the redevelopment of a former Post Office in Hull, new homes at Haywood Park in Southampton, and an apartment refurbishment in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. The company specialises in smart, affordable homes and future-ready commercial spaces.
For more information on WLTR, visit https://www.green.build/
