Pre-fab housing may conjure up images of the austerity of post-war Britain but could they provide a solution to the capital’s housing crisis?
The government has set up a fund to kickstart the idea and Mark Easton, the BBC home editor, discussed the issues and potential of the modular approach in a report for the BBC’s News at Ten last week.
Mr Easton, who is the chair of the Develop Croydon Conference taking place throughout the town centre on Tuesday, November 22, talked about how homes pre-constructed in a factory offer a bespoke solution including how many rooms and even where the walls go.
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“Not only do contemporary modular homes threaten to change the way we buy houses, the government hopes the modular approach will encourage many more people to build houses,” said Mr Easton.
“At the moment modular homes are no cheaper than conventional new housing but the government believes that if production can be substantially increased, economies of scale can kick in, prices will fall and overall housing supply will rise.”
Mr Easton reported that Britain’s relationship with modular housing was coloured by the post-war pre-fab, meaning they are still associated with austerity, drafts and damp.
“Now a new breed of British entrepreneur is looking at making modular living aspirational.
“Factory built houses currently make up less than one per cent of supply but can ministers rehabilitate the prefab?
“There is talk of building 100,000 by 2020 but it will take political will to have affordable homes delivered to our doorstep.”
You can still buy a last-minute ticket for the Develop Croydon Conference although just a handful remain. Call 020 8726 7968. For more details on the conference visit www.developcroydonconference.com