Fusion Building Systems, the offsite manufacturer of light gauge steel frames has been awarded a contract by Solus Homes to provide a two-storey superstructure for the renovation of Morley Street Mill in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The former home of the Morley hosiery factory is being sympathetically redeveloped by the Loughborough housebuilder
Whether you love or loath IKEA, there is no denying the thrill of picking out furniture and seeing it in your home on the same day. More and more house builders are now taking a leaf out of Ikea’s book with housing estates being constructed using modular build practices.
Moves to bring clubhouse and changing room facilities in line with Llanishen Rugby Club’s brand new, state of the art 3G pitch were potentially out of reach until they approached Henry Howard Finance. Unseen additional excavation costs had stretched their budget and also put new changing rooms in doubt. As
On the 27 March at the QEII in London, the UK Housing Minister Kit Malthouse will address an audience of construction professionals at the Explore Offsite Housing conference. In February 2018 the Ministry for Housing announced an extra £45 million of funding for community projects that would free up land
A report called ‘Prefabricated Volumetric Building Systems Market Report – UK 2018-2022’ has unveiled an increased demand for portable buildings. Since 2016, where there was an evident dip in market value (possibly due to the EU referendum), the demand has shown a significant improvement with a 6% increase in 2017.
BAM has acquired a stake in leading modular homes provider Modern Homes Ireland (MHI). MHI constructs quality assured steel-framed homes and commercial buildings within a precision-controlled environment, with units being up to 95% constructed before leaving the factory. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. BAM has taken the
An ambitious entrepreneur is seeking to take the market by storm with his first housing development on a site in Corby. At only 26 years, Joseph Daniels from Essex already has 27 directorships under his belt, with one of his ventures, Project Etopia, securing £3 million backing from hedge fund
A young house building site manager for well-established civil engineering and building firm, Britcon, has scooped a top national award at “The Bricks”, the prestigious LABC Warranty event celebrating the very best businesses and individuals in the UK housebuilding industry. At the tender age of just 22 Declan Hunt is
Exhibiting at the inaugural exhibition of the Bristol Housing Festival in October is ZEDPods, the company behind a new high-quality prefabricated housing solution developed to address the shortage in affordable housing across the UK and the lack of city centre building spaces. People attending the festival can visit a complete
A new research by Heriot-Watt University discovered that the UK has a backlog of 3.9 million homes, its biggest housing shortfall on record; meaning that 340,000 new homes need to be built each year until 2031. Central Bedfordshire alone needs to build 360 affordable homes each year until 2021 under
Fusion Building Systems, the offsite manufacturer of light gauge steel frames has been awarded a contract by Solus Homes to provide a two-storey superstructure for the renovation of Morley Street Mill in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The former home of the Morley hosiery factory is being sympathetically redeveloped by the Loughborough housebuilder to provide luxury apartment accommodation across six storeys, for sale on the open market. Northampton-based Fusion Building Systems’ contract is to design and manufacture offsite, the light gauge steel superstructure which will form the upper two floors of the development, to be positioned on top of the existing 18th century structure. The low weight of Fusion’s light gauge steel panelised system was one of the primary reasons it was chosen by Solus Homes, enabling the developer to retain as much of the original building construction without compromise. With individual exterior wall panels weighing up to 80% less than the same area in traditional building materials, the benefits of using a light gauge steel system are significant. This will be the first time the two companies have worked together and Solus Homes Managing Director Mark Hornsall, said: “I was aware of Fusion through industry connections and had seen some of their work locally. We discussed a similar mill restoration project they’d worked on in Leeds and after touring their manufacturing facility and reviewing their design and engineering capabilities, I was eager to see how their system could work for us.” Stewart Hackney, Fusion Building Systems Business Development Manager, added: “It’s been a pleasure to work through the plans for Morley Street with Solus Homes and as this project progresses, we hope they’ll see the benefits of working with our offsite system for themselves – through the predictability of cost, timelines and accuracy of construction.” Mark continued: “While lightweight materials are a driving factor in this project, I’m interested to see how offsite construction might speed up our site process – ultimately influencing the build quality of our developments and their commercial viability.” Demolition works at Morley Street started back in July 2018, followed by construction work in November. Fusion has an eight week build programme planned for the site and will shortly start on the design element of its work, before moving to production and then on to site in May. Solus Homes plans to reach completion by April 2020. www.fusionbuild.com www.solushomes.co.uk @FusionBuildLGS
Whether you love or loath IKEA, there is no denying the thrill of picking out furniture and seeing it in your home on the same day. More and more house builders are now taking a leaf out of Ikea’s book with housing estates being constructed using modular build practices. While modular builds won’t mean new housing estates springing up in a matter of hours, it will considerably reduce the wait. However, that is just one of the benefits of a pre-fabricated approach, as Nick Cowley, managing director of uPVC windows and doors expert, Euramax, explains. The flatpack phenomenon is still changing the way we live and work. In the last three decades, machinery and technology developments have meant that bigger, stronger and more efficient modular structures, including schools, business parks and medical facilities, are being built across the globe. Modular buildings and homes are prefabricated away from the final building site in sections, or modules. These are then delivered to the intended site where installation occurs. The need for speed As modular buildings are able to be constructed in highly controlled environments, it means that the build process can be completed up to 50 per cent faster than by using traditional construction methods. This ability to be built and installed quicker, means that the return on investment (ROI) is potentially far greater than traditional building projects, as the construction phase is significantly shortened. Show me the money The overall cost of the build can be reduced by up to 30 per cent by using modular practices. Shorter build time saves money on reduced labour costs and on-site equipment hire costs. The overall cost of construction materials will also be reduced as it means that the pre-fabricator can buy materials required in larger quantities for multiple projects, rather than just on an ad-hoc basis. These materials will all be delivered to one location, rather than multiple construction sites, so transportation and delivery costs are lower too. Modular construction also means that any installed elements, like windows and doors, or practical elements such as kitchens or light fixtures, can be delivered and installed all at once. Expert suppliers, like uPVC window and door manufacturer, Euramax, can deliver equipment and materials either to the pre-fabrication facility, or directly on site. The process of constructing a modular build off site means that any errors or issues with construction can be eliminated before arriving on site. This means that staff are less likely to need to spend large amounts of time and effort fixing things once installation is complete. Customisable options Modular builds open up huge potential in terms of design aesthetic and innovation. Traditional building designs are often restricted by the amount of space and planning regulations of how much work can be done to the local area and land. However, modular builds can be designed to a set of specifications that adapt to any restrictions that may be in place. As each modular build is tailored to the individual users needs, the construction can be designed and made to the exact space, budget and design requirements. Modular buildings are also commonly constructed out of more durable and environmentally sustainable materials, making the properties a better investment for both the construction company and the buyer. So, while the cheap and cheerful, cookie-cutter style furniture you buy and build from IKEA can be cost effective and an instantaneous moment of gratification, modular builds open up a much wider range of opportunity to reduce costs, speed up projects and create a unique look.
Moves to bring clubhouse and changing room facilities in line with Llanishen Rugby Club’s brand new, state of the art 3G pitch were potentially out of reach until they approached Henry Howard Finance. Unseen additional excavation costs had stretched their budget and also put new changing rooms in doubt. As the project progressed, it became clear that an innovative approach to funding would be required. Investing in an international size 3G pitch at Llanishen rugby ground proved problematic when it came to building a much-needed clubhouse and changing facilities. Installing the pitch and additional costs involved in excavating the proposed clubhouse site was within the club’s budget. A base-level of funding was required, however, for local company Clarks Modular Building Ltd to get the clubhouse project underway at all – which is where Henry Howard Finance stepped in. Ellis John, MD at Clarks Modular Building Ltd, said: “Llanishen approached us to see how we could assist them in staged payments. I had worked with Henry Howard Finance previously and was well-aware of their flexibility and approach, and we managed to come up with an agreement which enabled Llanishen to get some assistance with initial funding.” John Andrews, Club Secretary, said: “Having to dig into the ground, and having to establish something with flood lighting so close to a residential area – it all created extra cost and meant we had to go back to the calculator and start adding up again. Nobody from Henry Howard Finance shied away from the challenges we were facing though, they looked both sympathetically and constructively at solving those issues.” Matt Jones, Head of Asset Finance at Henry Howard Finance, said: “We are delighted in this instance to have been able to support a project which not only benefits the sports club and contractor at hand, but also the school who share the facility and effectively an entire local community too. “Helping Llanishen Rugby Club and Clarks Modular Building Ltd to get this project completed to such a high standard is just one of the many ways Henry Howard Finance is able to support organisations in a wide range of sectors, and of varying sizes, where traditional lenders have been known to fail.” “Drawing on our own lending book gives us much greater flexibility when it comes to providing finance generally. Our approach here has played a vital role in securing the future of a historic local club following a period of unprecedented investment.” To find out more about Henry Howard Finance please contact 01633 415222 or visit www.henryhowardfinance.co.uk.
On the 27 March at the QEII in London, the UK Housing Minister Kit Malthouse will address an audience of construction professionals at the Explore Offsite Housing conference. In February 2018 the Ministry for Housing announced an extra £45 million of funding for community projects that would free up land for local councils to build 7,280 homes. It has been 16 months since the government’s ‘offsite presumption’ announcement and key industry players are still unsure how this will play out and when clarity will arrive – many are optimistic that the Explore Offsite Housing event will provide at least some of the answers. Kit Malthouse’s short time in office has not been without controversy. He recently defended the Better Building Beautiful Commission and called on architects to work with him to resist bland, developer-led housing. He said the point of the government commission has been missed by British architects, who have criticised it for attempting to reignite the divide between proponents of traditional and modern architecture. The theme of traditional versus modern will continue at this one-day conference but this time the debate will move away from architecture to focus on contemporary delivery methods. Kit Malthouse was recently quoted as saying: “If I’m going to build 300,000 houses, I need local communities to accept them. And that means they need to like what’s being built. We’re putting 45 million quid into the house building industry across the piece. We’re not short of money to get this out of the door. But it’s perfectly possible to produce stuff that looks fantastic that satisfies the purists of the architectural profession and local communities at the same time.” Kit Malthouse then turned his attention to housing developers: “I need the architectural profession to join with me to cajole, propel, and push the developers to allow beauty into their work.” Through exemplary case studies, Explore Offsite Housing will provide evidence that offsite technology can rapidly deliver exceptional and aesthetically appealing residential projects at scale. The conference and exhibition will provide an opportunity for housing developers and architects to hear direct from the Housing Minister. All eyes will be on Kit Malthouse as he discusses the government’s plans for investment into offsite technologies and proposals for future potential collaboration and funding. Explore Offsite Housing will be attended by over 250 delegates from architects, engineers and housing developers to construction clients and building product manufacturers – all interested to be the first to hear new industry announcements. Offsite solutions provide the technological capabilities to allow the government to build the large levels of housing that are needed efficiently, with low costs and unbeatable quality consistency. As the construction world races to resolve the housing crisis, offsite professionals are keen to learn about new government-funded opportunities that are long overdue. To view the high-profile speaker line-up – which includes Mark Farmer – and to book your place go to: www.exploreoffsite.co.uk
A report called ‘Prefabricated Volumetric Building Systems Market Report – UK 2018-2022’ has unveiled an increased demand for portable buildings. Since 2016, where there was an evident dip in market value (possibly due to the EU referendum), the demand has shown a significant improvement with a 6% increase in 2017. This market value includes factory made, fully assembled, three-dimensional modules. Due to an increased demand for onsite accommodation on major infrastructure projects, such as The Thameslink Railway Construction Programme, volumetric construction has grown. It is also partly down to a spike in demand in other sectors such as portable offices and the education sector seeing request for flexibility and affordability. Temporary Accommodation The biggest market for portable buildings seems to be temporary accommodation on industrial sites and construction, including event hire. Education and healthcare are also key areas of use. The uses for these structures vary, with operating theatres and wards being the largest temporary application in the healthcare sector. In the education sector, modular structures are widely used as semi-permanent portable buildings for school classrooms, and in many cases, these buildings end up being permanent solutions. Major, permanent builds include blocks for sixth forms, specialist subject blocks, whole nurseries and extra sports facilitates for storage and more. House-building and Construction Many established construction and house-building companies have begun to adapt their semi-permanent work structures into off-site housing in recent years. With many big ‘players’ in the industry getting on board, it’s not hard to see the emerging trend. Well known names such as Berkeley Homes and Barratt homes, to name just two, are new market entrants amongst others. Over the next few years there are numerous factors that are likely to underpin steady growth in this sector. These include an increase in the number of public sector procurement frameworks – several which are specific to off-site construction, as well as the increased use of BIM (Building Information Modelling). More importantly there is now a strong likelihood of growth in the use of off-site construction methods and portable buildings to help meet the chronic housing shortage. It may be a viable solution in dealing with the lack of traditional construction skills within the industry. Off-site Manufacturing Techniques In the Housing White Paper of 2017, the government supported the use of off-site manufacturing techniques. This meant they backed the main benefits of high-quality, reliability, productivity, energy efficiency and required fewer people on site. The £2 billion Accelerated Construction Programme and the £3 billion Home Building Fund both supported this opinion. This includes those using modular construction and portable buildings. A higher demand for site accommodation on major infrastructure projects is most likely to be sustained through 2022 and beyond. Due to the implementation of the government’s Roads Investment Strategy and the continuation of Smart Motorways amongst other new developments, the need for portable buildings to be used as offices is forecast to grow at a rate of 3-5% per year. It wouldn’t be surprising that this growth is likely to continue with further innovations and plans. Excel Modular Buildings has more than 40 years of experience in the supply of Modular Buildings, Portable Cabins, Anti-vandal Units and Containers.
BAM has acquired a stake in leading modular homes provider Modern Homes Ireland (MHI). MHI constructs quality assured steel-framed homes and commercial buildings within a precision-controlled environment, with units being up to 95% constructed before leaving the factory. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. BAM has taken the strategic step with MHI, the only NSAI certified volumetric housing provider in Ireland, to enhance and maximise business opportunities for both companies in the Irish construction sector. MHI was established in 2016 and has completed more than 400 residential units since then, mainly in the Leinster area including a combination of social housing and high-end residential developments. Based in Ballyjamesduff where it employs 120 people with a current capacity of more than 500 units annually, it is led by its founding shareholder team of Joint Managing Directors Chris Curtis and Stephen McManmon and Executive Directors Adrian McNally and Brendan McNally. With the growing demand for housing, increasing industry resource constraints and the rising level of public and private investment in social and private homes, there is a significant opportunity for both to become the leaders in the use of modular construction for housing, student accommodation and hotels. These sectors are an important part of BAM’s current output. Both businesses plan to accelerate home building activity in social housing and PPP contracts as well as in private developments in large population centres. This further development in its modular approach, reflecting the change in the industry and in line with BAM’s strategy Building the Present, Creating the Future, enables BAM to offer its clients added value through high quality and rapid programmes. MHI has a unique and immediate offering of volumetric housing units and is well positioned to grow significantly in modular construction across multiple streams. They can competitively deliver high quality housing, unaffected by the construction skills shortage currently being experienced in Ireland. The benefit of off-site fabrication is a significantly faster build time than traditional construction. Following BAM’s investment MHI will further increase its production capacity in Ballyjamesduff. It will also benefit from BAM’s widespread knowledge across technical and academic fields and access to BAM’s global innovation team. This will improve its processes from a production and operational efficiency perspective, as well as being able to leverage BAM’s strong client base to enter new markets. BAM will also bring the expertise and experience which will enable MHI to bid for larger projects. This step also allows MHI access to BAM’s modular expertise in the Netherlands, where BAM Modulair Bouwen en Ontwikkelen has state-of-the art production facilities in Veenendaal to develop innovative elements for newbuild and renovation projects in both the residential and non-residential markets, thus contributing to making buildings more sustainable and circular. Confirming the investment BAM Ireland CEO Theo Cullinane said, “This is a significant strategic investment for BAM. We are cognisant of the need for an acceleration of output in the housing sector and we are happy that our investment will play a part in the solution to the current housing crisis in the country. Modular is clearly the future and this is a unique opportunity to further develop a business, not just in housing but in modular housing which aligns closely with our drive towards ‘digital construction”. Commenting on the deal, MHI Joint Managing Director Chris Curtis said, “We are very pleased to have entered into this strategic partnership with an Industry Leader in BAM, which will allow us to grow further and benefit from the vast experience that they will bring to us. This significant investment further confirms that off-site construction is the future of Housing and that our firm is at the forefront. This collaboration is the foundation for an exciting future ahead for MHI.”
An ambitious entrepreneur is seeking to take the market by storm with his first housing development on a site in Corby. At only 26 years, Joseph Daniels from Essex already has 27 directorships under his belt, with one of his ventures, Project Etopia, securing £3 million backing from hedge fund speculator Stanley Fink earlier this year. Project Etopia aims to build homes from modular kits using structural insulated panels, which would be made in a new factory set to open in Deeside in January. A site at Prior Halls in Corby has already been bought and it will house 47 eco-homes fitted with energy saving and storage technology. The homes incorporate Daikin mechanical ventilation, heat recovery, air purification and solar power as standard. “Old building techniques are exacerbating the housing crisis and it’s totally unnecessary. Corby is leading the way in showing how villages of the future should be built. Modular building is now so advanced, it is senseless to cling to bricks and mortar, which takes longer to build and is far more expensive,” said Joseph. Jospeh Daniels plans to start groundwork this month, while construction for the 47 homes, comprised of 31 houses and 16 apartments, will begin in February. By constructing the exterior shell in a factory, costs a lowered. A four-bed house is expected to sell for between £320,000 and £350,000, while new brick and mortar builds in Priors Hall Park cost from £450,000 to £575,000. His target market is young Londoners prepared to put up with an expensive commute in exchange for a foot on the housing ladder. “With a desperate need for more housing stock around the country, it is vital developers and investors finally let go of preconceptions of modular building. These are homes people really want to live in and they present huge environmental benefits from being energy neutral to requiring less on-site traffic during the build. Commuter villages like this offer younger would-be homeowners the wage benefits of working in the capital but without the high property costs, and Etopia Corby will be a model other councils can follow,” Joseph added. The factory planned for Deeside has a planned capacity of 2,000 units a year and is co-owned with Istidama, a company run by Christopher Moss and previously called Ecomech Structurally Insulated Panels. Project Etopia also co-owns a production facility at Butterleigh Sawmill near Tiverton with its home build partner Etribus. The first four homes in Corby are expected to be completed by the end of March, with each unit taking no more than six to eight weeks to build, and the whole scheme completed by autumn 2019.
A young house building site manager for well-established civil engineering and building firm, Britcon, has scooped a top national award at “The Bricks”, the prestigious LABC Warranty event celebrating the very best businesses and individuals in the UK housebuilding industry. At the tender age of just 22 Declan Hunt is already overseeing the construction and delivery of 68 new family houses for H.G. Homes at Yaddlethorpe Grange, Scunthorpe. This becomes even more remarkable when you consider this being H.G. Homes’ first venture into the world of residential development. Declan was nominated for “The Bricks” and more particularly the “Rising Star” award by his work colleagues and the regional warranty inspector. They described Declan as ‘a most caring and conscientious employee who has gained the respect of his peers, contractors and new home purchasers.’ Keen to expand his knowledge and gain experience Declan “juggles” quality house building with his part time degree studies at Sheffield Hallam University where he is due to qualify during 2019. “The Bricks” is a top industry event hosted by LABC Warranty at a glittering annual ceremony in London and recognises the exceptional work of developers, builders, contractors and individuals who go the extra mile to deliver the highest quality and standards in house building. Working alongside Local Authority Building Control and the housebuilders, LABC Warranty provide full warranties across this industry, with over 3,000 developments or individuals being eligible at the start of the nomination process. On winning the award Declan said, “Not only am I extremely proud to have won the ‘Rising Star’ trophy, I feel humbled that my colleagues recognised this and put me forward for such a prestigious award. This is a fantastic way to “kick” off my career in the housebuilding industry. “Since being very young I have always wanted to be involved in house building and I hope that my dedication and commitment is reflected in the very high-quality standards we aim to achieve on the builds and with customer care. To be recognised for my work within the Hunt family business makes it even more rewarding.” Declan Hunt is employed by Britcon which is a subsidiary of the Hunt Group business. Established for almost 30 years, Britcon is now a £45 million turnover business headquartered in Scunthorpe directly employing 110 people on its many project sites across the UK. Britcon’s Managing Director, Paul Clarkson said, “We are very proud that Declan has won this prestigious UK industry award. It is fantastic achievement for Declan given that he’s been in our industry for less than 5 years. As a business we are committed to support and recognise our talented individuals at every opportunity. The fact that he’s a Hunt family member makes it even more special and truly reflects the continuing family ethos and values running through our business today”. Hunt Group CEO and Declan’s Dad, Shaun Hunt, added, “I’m very proud of Declan’s achievements to date and the maturity he displays for such a young man. He’s certainly striving forward in our new business venture and it’s most pleasing to see this being supported by his peers and already recognised by industry professionals. I, the wider family and all those within the Group businesses wish him every success and all the very best in the future”. @Britcon_Limited https://www.britcon.co.uk/
Exhibiting at the inaugural exhibition of the Bristol Housing Festival in October is ZEDPods, the company behind a new high-quality prefabricated housing solution developed to address the shortage in affordable housing across the UK and the lack of city centre building spaces. People attending the festival can visit a complete ZEDPod starter home that comes fully fitted, ready for immediate occupation. The pods offer a high-quality housing solution that can be erected within days and generates more energy than it uses. Designed by RIBA award winning architect Bill Dunster, the zero-carbon ZEDPods are prefabricated homes with a difference, offering almost instant housing solutions without the land and site issues associated with conventional new build. “Importantly the ZEDPod concept decouples housing provision from land prices using air rights over car parks. This enables affordable, quality city homes where land is scarce or expensive to be put up quickly, helping keyworkers to live near their work and at the same time maintaining precious parking spaces,” explained Bill Dunster. Small but perfectly formed, each ZEDPod is a fully ‘Space Standards’ compliant home, providing a high performance, low energy housing solution, delivered at a fraction of the cost of comparable solutions, with minimal demand on existing services and infrastructure. Features include photovoltaic roof panels, integrated battery storage and heat pumps for domestic hot water, together with super insulated construction and triple glazed windows. Each unit incorporates its own front door and private balcony area. Inside is a fully fitted kitchen and dining area and a lounging space with TV. Stairs lead to a mezzanine floor with home office desk, double bed, good sized bathroom, wardrobe and storage space. The ZEDPod homes come in a variety of design options and can be tailored to a range of accommodation needs. They are ideal for city centre organisations including City Councils and Housing Associations, colleges and universities, hospitals and emergency services, as well as other private sector companies with extensive city centre car parking assets.
A new research by Heriot-Watt University discovered that the UK has a backlog of 3.9 million homes, its biggest housing shortfall on record; meaning that 340,000 new homes need to be built each year until 2031. Central Bedfordshire alone needs to build 360 affordable homes each year until 2021 under the Strategic Housing Market Assessment. To make a start Central Bedfordshire College and a private developer have chosen ZEDPods, ready-made, quality starter-homes for a new development of 23 homes on college land. The one and two-bedroom houses, a break-through development in low cost, low carbon and high-quality homes, are fabricated off site. Their modular construction allows them to be rapidly erected on pieces of land not generally considered suitable for housing. With a variety of design options covering single or multi-occupancy sites, ZEDPod homes can be tailored for a range of accommodation needs, offering a viable, affordable solution to the keyworker housing crisis. “We are delighted that Central Bedfordshire College is able to support the local area needs and ZEDPods with the creation of environmentally friendly housing solutions. We look forward to working with ZEDPods to develop new courses teaching on modern forms of construction utilising the most cutting edge, eco-friendly construction techniques to our learners and to seeing the benefits that this innovation will have on our community,” said Ali Hadawi, Principal of Central Bedfordshire College. The ZEDPods are designed and developed by RIBA award-winning architect Bill Dunster, who will take advantage of existing city centre car park locations and hard standings across the UK. The homes are built to higher standards than conventional houses, being super insulated, triple glazed, with heat recovery ventilation, low carbon technology and lots of daylight. “As the pods are constructed from quality fireproof, durable and robust materials, they are designed to last as long as a traditionally built homes, The pods’ solar roofs generate more energy than the houses consume, so they will also have the lowest possible running costs,” explained Bill Dunster. ZEDPod owners will have their own balcony and front door, a kitchen and dining table, a bathroom, a lounge with stairs leading to a mezzanine floor bedspace, with home office desk, double bed, wardrobe and storage. ZEDPods will be sold with a ‘Q Assure’ mortgageable warranty.
