The UK domestic political agenda has seen housebuilding at its centre for some time now – especially over recent weeks with the publication of the Government’s Housing White Paper. With the pressures to deliver housing at scale, light gauge steel is ‘futureproof’ and poised to meet construction industry demands.
With the country still facing a crippling housing shortage – triggering demand for one million new homes to be built by 2020 – the need for a revolution in housebuilding edges slowly forward and this has seen the increased call for the greater uptake of offsite construction technology to deliver ‘accelerated housing programmes’.
London is at the centre of the housing crisis with experts forecasting that the city will require 60,000 new homes a year – around double the current rate – to meet projections. Innovation in building methods and materials is required for housebuilding in urban areas to hit targets, whilst ensuring a high quality of living, low carbon emissions and a reduction in overall costs.
Space standards have recently become a focus of urban building. A report conducted by RIBA in 2011 pushed the Government to take action in tackling the shrinking size of houses, particularly in the London area. In October 2015, a new nationally described space standard was implemented, setting out detailed guidance on the minimum size of new homes. The guidance stated that new one-bedroom, one-person flats would have to be a minimum of 37m2, while three-bedroom, five-person homes, should be a minimum of 93m2.
By taking advantage of the lightweight structure of steel, developers are able to reduce foundation requirements and significantly improve design capability. Using lightweight steel frame as the primary structure allows developers to construct high-rise buildings that offer a larger number of dwellings at a spacious size.
Steel is a robust, rigid and dimensionally stable material that does not suffer from movement created by moisture related issues. As an advanced high performance offsite solution, steel is not susceptible to shrinkage, warping, cracking, rot infestation or moisture absorption. The inherent benefits of steel construction are why it is dominant in shaping our present and future city skylines.
In order to hit the government’s target of one million new homes by 2020, there is a growing need for high-capacity housebuilding at a rapid rate of construction. There is currently a lot of financial firepower and interest behind the use of offsite construction in residential builds, which is being backed by the Government. And for good reason.
Light gauge steel frame plays a fundamental part in offsite construction. Structural panels assembled from cold-formed galvanised steel sections can be used in a wide range of building types and in hybrid situations with concrete and other materials. Light steel framing is typically used for the primary structure of housing and low-to-medium-rise buildings of two to four storeys. For taller buildings, often constructed in highly populated, urban areas, steel framing can be complemented by the use of hot-rolled members at key locations. Light gauge steel framing can be used for a building’s full frame but also for a variety of roofing, volumetric modular options and infill walling applications.
Offsite construction allows suppliers and installers to meet tight time requirements set out by developers. Offsite construction also reduces the lag time that is often seen on traditional building sites in which site-work, foundations and building construction occur consecutively. When it comes to residential buildings, speed of construction is particularly beneficial due to it providing a faster return on capital employed. This is crucial in places such as London where tall apartment buildings dominate the residential sector.
Another advantage to building offsite is the added energy efficiency. This is highly applicable to London as it currently has a target of a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025. Homes and workplaces account for around 78% of CO2 emissions in London and with 80% of the existing building stock likely to still be in place in 2025, it is vital to improve the energy performance of new builds in order to cut costs and carbon.
Enderby Wharf – delivering frontier developments
Enderby Wharf, a recent Barratt Homes development – in which EOS Facades worked closely with Stanmore to manufacture and supply the general infill – showcases the best in innovative, urban construction.
Enderby Wharf has been described as a ‘frontier development’, making up a significant part of the regeneration of Greenwich. The site is based in an ideal position in Greenwich with west-facing views to the City and Canary Wharf and providing over 200m of river frontage. The development comprises one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, priced from around £425,000 up to £800,000.
Apartments included in the later phases feature at least one balcony or terrace – providing both lighting and space, as well as views of either Greenwich, Canary Wharf or towards the O2 Arena. The River Thames runs right past the build – giving some apartments a fantastic view of the water. The development is the first of its kind in the area and is a key aspect of the overall redevelopment of Greenwich
Challenges during construction included issues with insulation specification and the achievement of required envelope robustness. These challenges were overcome by adapting the section size and an engineered solution was maintained by the EOS system. Stanmore received training in EOS systems to enable them to detail and design the works.
Due to its location in the heart of London, the key pre-requisite for the build was speed of construction. EOS were able to achieve the manufacturing lead times of less than five days by using offsite construction and utilising their long-standing relationship with Stanmore. This meant that EOS did not have to design the components and instead used call offs only. A fast build programme meant units were able to be turned around quickly, ready for sale.
As the need for new homes in urban areas continues, it is up to the construction industry to take the reins on this ever-growing demand and steer it to innovative, forward thinking horizons. The solutions are readily available and it has become clear that offsite steel construction will continue to be at the heart of our thriving cities for years to come.
For more information visit: www.eos-facades.co.uk
Source: Offsite Magazine - Issue 5
