London-based construction robotics company AUAR has raised £5.1 million in a new funding round to expand its automated approach to timber-based home construction.

The round was led by Planet A Ventures, with participation from Shadow Ventures, Common Magic, Concrete VC, and angel investors. With this raise, AUAR’s total funding stands at £7.7 million. The company is currently valued at £26.1 million.

A mobile factory for on-site housing production

AUAR develops deployable robotic micro-factories housed inside standard shipping containers. These units can be installed within 12 weeks and are designed to manufacture timber-frame housing directly at construction sites.

According to the company, a single micro-factory can produce up to 180 homes each year. The system reduces construction costs by up to 40% while significantly lowering labour requirements. By shifting production closer to project locations, the model also cuts transportation-related emissions.

The platform is supported by AUAR’s proprietary software, MasterBuilder, which automates the workflow from design through fabrication.

From academic research to commercial deployment

AUAR was founded by former University College London architecture professors Mollie Claypool and Gilles Retsin. The company emerged from more than ten years of academic research focused on robotics, automation, and generative design.

Since its spin-out, AUAR has moved beyond research and into live deployment. Its initial micro-factories have already been used for housing projects in the United States and Belgium.

Emphasis on local builders and inclusive teams

AUAR operates with a licensing-based model that allows local builders to adopt its automation systems without high upfront investment. This approach supports regional construction ecosystems while enabling smaller firms to access advanced manufacturing tools.

The company also reports that women make up 50% of its team, a figure that remains rare within construction and robotics. According to the founders, team diversity plays a direct role in improving system design and decision-making.

Expansion plans and long-term targets

The newly raised capital will be used to support AUAR’s expansion across Europe, with a focus on the Benelux, DACH, and Nordic regions. The company also plans to commercially launch a mid-rise timber housing system in 2026.

Looking ahead, AUAR aims to work with more than 200 builders by 2030. It targets the delivery of 100,000 carbon-negative homes and annual revenues exceeding £200 million by the end of the decade.

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