How factory-made modular homes could solve Plymouth housing crisis

People could be living in pre-made modular houses by as early as 2022, says commercial property giant JLL.

The consultancy predicts new homes in larger South West towns and cities, such as Exeter and Plymouth, look set to be pre-fabricated "like cars" within the next five to 15 years.

That and co-living, where people share such amenities as bathrooms and kitchens, could be the solution to the South West's housing crisis.

The firm is predicting a huge change in the way homes are built and will outline its predictions when it presented its 2017 South West Market Review in Exeter.

JLL will say there is likely to be a "seismic shift" in how and where we live and work by 2030.

It says there will be an increase in off-site construction of modular housing, the modern-day equivalent of the pre-fabs of the 1960s, which could alleviate pressure on the housing market.

Modular homes are generally quicker and cheaper to build, and are smaller, more flexible and often of higher quality, bringing time and cost efficiencies that could make house building more attractive to developers, said JLL.

The move to modular housing could help combat a housing crisis which has seen the UK needed another one million homes by 2020.

Tim Western, JLL director, said off-site construction in the UK is growing 25 per cent per year. "This technique results in a 30 per cent reduction in build time, a 75 per cent reduction in workforce and 40 per cent less vehicle movements, meaning that modular housing is likely to drive a huge change in how homes get built over the next five years.

"Homes manufactured like cars, in other words off-site in a factory, with the opportunity to pick and choose what goes into a basic structure, will bring 'car quality' to the market.

"Clients and designers need to adapt to this evolving trend; indeed, this is an opportunity for innovation that could give early adopters a competitive advantage."

JLL said this approach presents opportunities beyond the housing sector with offices, schools and hotels all set to benefit.
Key elements of any building, including bathrooms, lift cores and window systems, can all be fabricated in a factory before being slotted into place.

As evidence of this trend, financial services company Legal & General is investing in the largest house building factory in Europe, near Leeds, marking the first time that such an investor has moved into producing pre-made homes.

Mr Western said: "The considerable skills shortage faced by the construction industry is going to make modular housing even more attractive.

"It may come into play in a big way here in the South West once work on Hinkley Point starts, which is going to absorb a large number of construction workers and put added pressure on the supply chain."

PRE-MADE; Amodular building in Nottingham

Meanwhile, Mr Western said the number of first-time-buyers has fallen by a third in the past decade.
He said 25 per cent of the population will now never own a home.  But he said home-ownership is a particularly British ambition.

In France just 64 per cent of people own their homes.   In the USA it is 63 per cent and in Germany only 52 per cent.
But in the UK the figure is at about 73 per cent.

"There will be more rental," Mr Western predicted, adding that 27,000 homes are being built in the regions just to rent out.
And he said co-living could come in too.

"That's with combined spaces, like student living," he said. "So you could own a home but have it shared."

JLL's annual South West Property Market Review is being held on Thursday Jan 25 at Sandy Park in Exeter at 6pm. JLL's experts will share their insights into the future of the region's property market for the year ahead as well as reviewing 2016.

Original link - Plymouth Herald