Minister watches new homes constructed in one day

Housing Wed, Mar 23, 2016 10:33 AM

Minister watches new homes constructed in one day

HCA partners Walsall Council and the Accord Group have hosted the new Housing and Planning Minister and demonstrated their ability to meet housing demand in the Midlands by building two houses, whilst he was there.

Accord’s off-site manufacturing method was in the spotlight and Brandon Lewis MP watched as two family homes were built within the day at the Beechdale development in Walsall , which has received almost £1m through HCA’s 2011-15 AHP.

Accord was the first housing association in the country to create its own timber factory, which is based across the road from the Beechdale development in Walsall. Called, LoCaL Homes, the venture produces around 200 offsite homes per year and has created in excess of 30 jobs at the site.

Alan Yates, executive director of regeneration at the Accord Group said: “The demand for housing across the country remains high but we are confident that offsite manufacturing offers the solution to increase the building of more homes, efficiently and to a high quality.

"We’re delighted to have demonstrated that two family homes can be built in a day using this technique and that a site that has stood derelict for seven years can be regenerated for the benefit of local people.”

Speaking about his visit to Walsall, Brandon Lewis MP said: “We need to build more homes in this country, and new housing should be efficient and built quickly to a high quality, using brownfield land wherever possible. Innovative approaches such as offsite construction are one way to achieve this. They are widely used on the continent, but only play a limited role in British house building.

“We need to catch up, and I would encourage all councils and developers to consider the cutting-edge techniques I’ve seen being used in Walsall, where fantastic new homes are being built in record time on brownfield land for local people.”

The day was hosted by Walsall Council and also on show during the day was another of HCA’s 2011-15 AHP schemes at Blakenhall, where Walsall Housing Group is delivering 73 new affordable homes. His tour finished at the brand new Mar City development in Walsall – a private development of modular homes.

Featured News

Specification news
Schlüter-Systems creates a stylish and well-protected...

A magnificent high-end residential project located in the peaks of Saddleworth in ...

Read More >>

Specification news
Freefoam roofline & gutters chosen for sustainability...

Vistry Group’s groundbreaking Vistry Innovation Centre features a range of...

Read More >>

BUILDING PRODUCT LIBRARY - LATEST BROCHURES

Gerflor Taraflex® Sports Flooring | 2024 | EN Brochure

Gerflor Taraflex® Sp...
By Gerflor

Download Now >>

Gerflor Social Housing Floors | 2024 | EN Brochure

Gerflor Social Housi...
By Gerflor

Download Now >>

Gerflor Retail Flooring | 2024 | EN Brochure

Gerflor Retail Floor...
By Gerflor

Download Now >>

Gerflor Industry Flooring | 2024 | EN Brochure

Gerflor Industry Flo...
By Gerflor

Download Now >>

Gerflor Hospitality Flooring | 2024 | EN Brochure

Gerflor Hospitality...
By Gerflor

Download Now >>

BUILDING PRODUCT DIRECTORY - LATEST PRODUCTS

Straightcurve®
Straightcurve®

Straightcurve® – headquartered in Australia, is renowned for high-end innovative garden edging,...

Read More >>

RLG600 Access Flooring System
RLG600 Access Flooring System

The Kingspan RLG600 raised access floor panel is intended for light office use and is capable of...

Read More >>

RHG600 Simploc
RHG600 Simploc

Kingspan RHG600 Simploc is the heavy grade floor system, capable of handling up to a 12kN/m2...

Read More >>

CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS - LATEST VIDEOS

Discover the first-ever reference book for stone wool insulated sandwich panels
Discover the first-ever reference book for stone wool insulated sandwich panels

“Building with stone wool insulated sandwich panels” written by Professor Imperadori, is now...

Watch Now >>

Portakabin | Installation at the iconic Admiralty Arch, London
Portakabin | Installation at the iconic Admiralty Arch, London

Portakabin | Installation at the iconic Admiralty Arch, London

Watch Now >>