Social landlords are increasing the proportion of homes they are building using offsite techniques in a bid to use new approaches to solve the housing supply crisis.
An exclusive Inside Housing survey reveals 17 of the largest housing associations across Britain plan to increase the percentage of homes they are constructing using factory methods, such as timber frame or modular construction.
Over the next three years, the 17 associations plan to start 22,544 homes, of which 56.8% (12,818) are due to be built ‘using offsite techniques’.This compares to 2011/15 when the same landlords used modern construction methods on just 46.3% of the 20,740 homes started.
The poll also revealed that the vast majority of landlords – 15 out of 17 - consider offsite manufacturing to be important ‘in delivering the numbers of homes the UK needs’.
Spectrum Housing Group is using offsite techniques on 1,035 of the 1,725 homes it intends to start between 2015 and 2018. It said: ‘Offsite prefabrication has many advantages in terms of build quality, speed of delivery, construction, health and safety, energy-in-use, whole-life carbon footprint and reduced transportation.’
DCH Group (formerly Devon & Cornwall Housing) is using offsite techniques on half of the 1,227 homes it is starting over the next three years. It said the technology ‘offers the potential to control cost, quality and time to construct’ and can reduce the impact of weather delays.
Some landlords pointed out a number of barriers for social landlords. Walsall Housing Group, which is using offsite manufacturing on 100 out of 1,400 homes it is building in 2015 to 2018, said modern methods of construction have ‘not been embraced by the mainstream developer market’, while there is ‘no clear government policy or funding incentive’ to use the techniques. New Charter Housing Trust called on developers to make offsite products more accessible.
Bromford and North Lincolnshire Homes said they think offsite manufacturing is not important in housing delivery and neither are using the techniques. Both pointed to difficulties in achieving economies of scale to drive down costs.
IN NUMBERS: OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION SURVEY
22,544 homes due to be started by 17 associations in 2015/18
56.8% percentage of homes due to be built using off-site methods
20,740 homes started by the landlords in 2011/15
46.3% percentage of homes using off-site methods
Source: Inside Housing
