Published: 5 October 2018 in Industry News

Can Modular Homes Aid Social Housing Shortfalls?

With a large cloud of uncertainty looming over the nation, whether your optimistic or pessimistic about leaving Europe one thing is for certain: local authorities are feeling the pinch. Despite the increasing pressure on the services provided by local councils, they typically find themselves with less capital to do this with. But it’s not all down and gloom. There will always be a demand for services, but with a tightening budget, local authorities turn to alternative, innovative methods in order to meet their goals. And construction is no different.

The advantages of modular buildings mean they are a fantastic alternative for any customer in need of a quick and efficient solution. Like many places across the UK, a need for social housing is an important factor for local authorities to consider, and this is no different in Northern Ireland. In need of a solution for residents who are in need of homes, the Clanmil Housing Group turned to an offsite construction company to aid in their endeavours to support those in need. As this was a fantastic example of the applications of modular buildings, we thought we’d explore the project and how it utilises the benefits of modular buildings.

Providing social housing for Northern Ireland

The project itself is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, with the aim to bring 40 modular houses to the town of Carrickfergus, in the county of Co Antrim. Clanmil Housing Group, who provide affordable homes for rent throughout Northern Ireland, enlisted the help of offsite construction company McAvoy to erect the homes in a shorter time frame. The housing scheme is worth £6.2million and will involve the modular homes being delivered using offsite factory construction.

The aim is to have a modular home erected on prefabricated foundations in a day, fit with windows, flooring, bathrooms and a kitchen. Built with the assistance of a £3.1million grant from the Department of Communities, the development will include a mixture of homes for both families and for older residents. The use of modular buildings and the offsite methods used to put them together will reduce the development’s build time by 56 weeks, intending to deliver the homes in nine months.

The value of modular buildings

Constructing modular buildings is the bread and butter of what we do and have been doing for decades here at Springfield. Although we don’t supply houses, we do provide services for both private and public sectors, with buildings ranging from healthcare facilities and leisure centres, to classrooms and nurseries. This particular case in Northern Ireland highlights the fantastic applications our line of work could provide to the social infrastructure of local communities. With the expense and time-consuming methods of traditional construction techniques, the fact the housing group turned to modular buildings to get houses to those in need quicker is fantastic news for both the offsite industry and for future approaches to social housing developments in the region.

In addition to the faster speed our offsite methods have over their traditional counterparts, another aspect of modular buildings is its customisation. An element which could be applied in this Northern Ireland case, modular buildings can be customised to the client’s specifications so when the sectional structures are put together on site, you have the perfect unique building erected at an unrivalled speed. Here at Springfield, we offer each and every one of our customers a completely customisable service, from what the building looks like to how you choose to pay. We are committed to using first-rate building materials ensuring the customer can decide on a wide range of exterior finishes.

To find out more about the services we provide for in the construction of modular buildings, check out our website or call us on 01744 851958.