Modular construction took centre stage in the latest episode of Channel 4’s Grand Designs, which first aired last night (7 September).
The programme featured a couple who decided to replace their draughty, 1940s pre-fabricated house in Tunbridge Wells, with its modern equivalent – an offsite-manufactured modular home.
The original home was constructed with a timber frame and asbestos cladding. Its three-bedroom modular replacement took the form of six cuboid modules manufactured in a Sussex factory by Boutique Modern.
The heavily insulated building sits on 14 concrete pad foundations, with the aim of building in two days. Each module spent 12 days on the production line.
The couple’s total budget for demolition of the old property, groundworks and construction was £350,000. Boutique Modern, which specialises in social housing, charged a flat fee for the project.
However, not everything ran smoothly, with transportation and logistics proving to be a particular challenge.
The programme also featured Mark Farmer, author of Modernise or Die, who explained to presenter Kevin McCloud why he thinks the UK needs more modular homes.
The episode is available to view on demand on Channel 4’s All 4 app and website. See Grand Designs – All 4 (channel4.com)
