Beginning construction this year, McCarthy Stone has announced they will be developing 40 new retirement community sites utilising modern methods of construction (MMC). The ambitious plan will see the first sites in Warminster, West Bridgford, Stratford-Upon- Avon, and Broadstairs under construction this year, with the remaining sites scheduled for completion by 2024.
MMC will use an eco-friendly and dynamic light steel framing (LSF), offsite structural solution - provided in partnership with Sigmat. The utilisation of MMC will enable fast-tracking of the delivery of high-quality, energy-efficient and cost-friendly retirement homes for the elderly. The partnership recently achieved NHBC Accreditation for their unique apartment system using LSF.
The company is one of the first UK retirement community developers to begin delivering offsite built housing and the only one to provide it on a nationwide scale. A recent McCarthy Stone project, an MMC retirement community in Hexham, reduced build times by 15%, and the company aims to cut future build times by 25%. The retirement home scheme will also aid the government's Heat and Building Strategy, designed to reduce carbon emissions.
CEO of McCarthy Stone, John Tonkiss, announced further details, including the goal of building 50% of their retirement homes utilising this method as part of their long-term plan. Construction Minister Lee Rowley MP said of the project: "I am pleased to see McCarthy Stone will be expanding their commitment to delivering more retirement housing using modern methods of construction. Their cleaner and cheaper construction method is helping the UK meet its net zero targets while also providing high-quality housing for our aging population."
Sigmat has also spoken about their excitement for the partnership, with Paul Smith, Managing Director, saying: "This is a hugely exciting collaboration for both McCarthy Stone and Sigmat. We are delighted to have been selected as McCarthy Stone's LSF partner of choice on their journey to fully embrace MMC and the benefits it brings. By partnering with McCarthy Stone we are committed to setting new standards in delivering retirement living portfolios, providing NHBC-approved quality structures, manufactured offsite at our Leeds manufacturing facility for the UK retirement market."
