Up to 750 affordable rent council homes will be built using modular construction methods across 60 sites in the Royal Borough of Greenwich in London, as part of a new £300m contract.
Construction firm A&E Elkins has entered an alliance with offsite manufacturer Ideal Modular Homes and architecture firm shedkm under an ACA TAC-1 Term Alliance contract to deliver the project, which runs for an initial five years with the option to be extended by another five.
The modular homes can be manufactured in four days and installed on site in just eight hours, cutting the delivery programme time by up to 50%, it was claimed.
Ray Elkins, managing director at A&E Elkins, said: “A&E Elkins is delighted to be part of the alliance to support the Royal Borough of Greenwich in their quest to provide high quality, affordable homes that exceed carbon zero standards and reduce fuel poverty for local communities. A&E Elkins believes the council is setting a precedent that should be the standard for all new build homes.”
Ideal Modular Homes founder Luke Barnes added: “Ideal is delighted to be a part of such an exciting project and alliance. Councils are under constant pressure to deliver affordable housing at a reduced cost, while still delivering on quality. This joint venture will see that beautifully designed high-quality homes can be delivered in half the time that traditional methods would.”
Royal Greenwich cabinet member for housing Anthony Okereke said: “Employing modular techniques as part of our Greenwich Builds programme is allowing us to quickly deliver the high quality and sustainable council homes so badly needed in our borough. With plans for construction on 750 new homes to be underway by 2022, we’re excited to be at the forefront of delivering innovative zero-carbon council properties, making good on Royal Greenwich’s commitments to tackling both the housing crisis and climate change."
The first of these homes for council tenants are expected to be on site before the end of this year.
