Laing O'Rourke has been picked as construction partner by Stanhope for a five-year housing development programme, which will utilise the contractor's offsite manufacturing capability.
The firm will work with a joint venture between the developer and housing association Network Homes, which plans to identify and build out multiple sites over the next five years.
The first project, valued at £200m, is for around 550 homes next to Southall railway station in west London.
The 350,000 sq ft development will comprise a mix of Build to Rent, market sale and around 180 homes for shared ownership and affordable rent, together with 20,000 sq ft of retail and commercial space, and flexible work space.
Stanhope said the scheme will use a combination of traditional build and modern methods of construction, with elements such as bathrooms, balconies and panelling being factory-built before installation on site, reducing build time and cost.
The developer described project as "the first stage in the practical implementation of the strategic alliance between Network Homes and Stanhope to deliver innovative residential-led schemes that answer London's need for more high-quality housing".
Network Homes and Stanhope initially signed a framework agreement in 2016 to explore opportunities in the build to rent sector.
Laing O'Rourke chief executive Ray O'Rourke said: "We are delighted in our appointment to deliver 550 new homes at Southall, Ealing. Using Laing O'Rourke's DfMA 70:60:30 offsite manufacturing capability, the project will see efficiency and certainty of delivery that is needed both here and to get a different result for the housing market across London and the south-east.
"The success of this approach can be evidenced on projects like Two Fifty One at Southwark, Imperial College's residential towers at White City or the high-end Clarges residences in Mayfair."
David Camp, chief executive of Stanhope, said: "This alliance between a major private developer like Stanhope and a leading housing association like Network Homes is the only way we are going to solve London's housing crisis - by delivering high-quality new homes cheaply and efficiently outside the conventional structures which have failed.
"We need to disrupt the market to achieve the ambitious goals for new and affordable housing set by the mayor of London and the government.
"Stanhope is building upon its expertise and experience to play a long-term role in delivering reasonably priced homes with a variety of tenures in London.
"Our strategic partnership with Network Homes will not only enable us to deliver 550 new homes in Southall quickly and cheaply but also to combine our skills to provide much-needed regeneration and a high-quality mixed tenure product and service across London."
The joint venture aims to submit a planning application in Spring 2018 and achieve a start on site in early 2019, with the development completed by mid-2021.
Original link - Construction Manager Magazine
