A new report by Make UK Modular is calling for the government to focus investment on modular housing to tackle the housing crisis.
The report suggests that supporting modular construction would deliver 20,000 low-energy homes across the country, enabling residents to make significant savings on energy bills in the process.
Modular homes cost 55% less to heat than the average UK home and 32% less than traditional new builds, which could deliver savings of up to £800 for the average three-bedroom house.
The report also states that planning permission for modular housing projects should be fast-tracked due to the fact that they can be produced from start to finish 50% faster than typical bricks and mortar homes. This would facilitate a faster turnaround to provide housing in areas that need it most.
According to Make UK Modular, the trade body for modular housing, investment in modular homes could also create up to 4,000 jobs in 'left behind areas' of the UK. Currently, modular manufacturers have chosen to build over 40 factories in post-industrial provincial towns and cities, creating 3,000 jobs and delivering £700million of investment in low-growth, low-employment areas.
The environmental benefits of modular housing compared to traditional construction methods are also highlighted, suggesting that building with modular can reduce the amount of CO2 produced during construction by up to 83%. The report also outlines that modular home construction is also more efficient and environmentally friendly, producing up to 90% less materials wastage than traditional builds.
Steve Cole, director of Make UK Modular, said: "There is a housing success story in this country, and it is modular. This report shows definitively that modular is now a significant player in the UK housing market. The government must capitalise on this as opportunities to transform our broken housing market into the most sophisticated in the world do not come around every day.
"The government must accelerate modular delivery, building on the investment made and the jobs created, by removing the remaining barriers holding the industry back."
The report sets out what Make UK Modular is proposing to the government to help the modular sector achieve its full potential, which includes:
- Dedicate 20% of the programme of affordable housing provision to modular housing
- Offer fast-track planning, prioritising modular and green homes in land allocation
- Raise energy efficiency standards for new housing, where modular already meets a higher criteria than traditional building, reduce stamp duty based on energy efficiency and net zero performance, and require all for sale and to let homes to provide accurate data on energy bills
Source: Offsite Tending Now
