Pre-fabricated homes will help meet the demand for affordable rented housing
China National Building Material Company (CNBM) has become the latest player to be involved in helping to resolve the UK housing crisis, they will be involved in a joint venture with a leading UK housing association, Your Housing Group (YHG) and a renewable energy supplier, Welink, their plan is to build six prefabricated home factories that will create 25,000 low-energy dwellings a year.
The intention is to to meet the enormous demand in the UK for affordable rented housing, the deal has been praised by the UK’s Department for International Trade. State-owned CNBM will invest £2.5bn in the venture, and housing association YHG will supply £250m, according to a report in the magazine Inside Housing.
According to the announcement 25,000 homes a year will be produced by 2022, five pilot schemes are planned to deliver 2,000 homes next year, the panels for these homes will be supplied by Barcelona Housing Systems, a Spanish manufacturer, the first scheme will be in Liverpool and is expected to receive planning permission in January.
Ajmal Rahman, chairman of Welink Group, reportedly said: “Our partnership comes at a time when the UK’s housing shortfall is only going to be addressed by radical innovation in building practices which opens the way for modular housing.
“This joint venture will give a significant kick-start to delivering the new homes people need across the UK which includes helping to address fuel poverty issues through our incorporated solar and energy efficient design – meaning our developments can be at least 75% off-grid. Furthermore, British produced light gauge steel framing will help keep our carbon footprint to a minimum.”
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