Modular builder hires envelope expert as technical chief

Modular housebuilder Project Etopia has hired building envelope specialist Mike Mapston as its new chief technical officer.

Mapston has 40 years' experience in offsite building and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), a fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health and a chartered surveyor.

He specialises in designing building envelopes that deliver both high-quality construction while promoting health and wellbeing, working in the UK as well as for some of the largest construction companies in Japan, Sweden, America and the Middle East to develop construction systems that can be future-proofed to cope with extreme weather events associated with climate change. Mapston use his experience to help design affordable but energy saving homes, Project Etopia said.

So far this year, the company has also appointed Lord Stanley Fink as its chairman and founder of residential developer Southern Grove, Andrew Southern, as its chief real estate officer. Lord Fink's son Alex has also been made a board adviser

The business has also opened a new factory in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, with a capacity to produce 2,000 panelised homes a year

Mapston said: "I have always believed that offsite construction would provide the solution to the housing challenges and shortages suffered, not just in Britain, but in many parts of the world.

"I am delighted to be joining the Project Etopia mission at such a crucial stage. The challenge now is to scale, both at home and abroad, but I remain convinced the market for quality modular homes is so large the opportunity is there for the taking."

Project Etopia chief executive Joseph Daniels added: "Mike is a widely-acclaimed expert in offsite construction and I'm delighted to have him aboard.

"He was in the vanguard of the movement to construct offsite and capitalise on all the benefits this method of house building can bring to society. He will be a huge asset."