Plans for modular and modern forms of housing across Yorkshire Posted on: January 16th, 2019 The hot-topic of offsite and modular construction was a key talking point at our York Development Plans Conference, all which are set to be discussed and showcased at the Offsite Manufacture Exhibition & Conference set to be held in Harrogate this June. Tamsin Hart-Jones, part of the development team at York Central, confirmed that they’re looking to include modular or modern forms of housing where possible within their 45-ha brownfield regeneration project. The scheme, in partnership with landowners Homes England, City of York Council, the Railway Museum and Network Rail, will see the area in the heart of York transformed with over 2,500 homes planned for the site. Talking about their desire to include offsite builds Hart-Jones said: “We’re really interested in finding different ways to deliver housing. When we take plots to market modular will be a part of that process. We are keen to encourage that with our development partnership.” Eddie Peat, Regional Director at regeneration specialist Harworth Group, said he expected modular homes to become a standard form of construction in the future: “As with renewable energy and electric cars, with modular homes there comes a tipping point when opportunities which may not be economically viable at the moment start to become their own. It’s a much more sustainable approach to building properties, in ten-year we’ll be asking why didn’t we do it sooner.” Julian Rudd, Head of Regeneration at Selby District Council, said the authority is currently in discussions with Legal and General over the use of modular homes from their Sherburn based factory, which is due to be the largest modular housing factory in Europe. Rudd said: “This is very much on our agenda at Selby, and that’s not only because we have the L&G Homes factory in the region. We’re in active discussions with them for opportunities in and around Selby itself for them to showcase their product. The move towards modular is something we have very much tried to encourage via the LEP route. We’ve got funding through the design quality fund to promote the use of modular housing. There are real strengths in terms of production in this part of the world.” Register for the Offsite Manufacture Exhibition & Conference – Click Here.
