The London Borough of Havering and Wates Residential have received planning approval for 18 modular homes on the Waterloo and Queen Street Estate in Romford, marking a milestone for the pilot project aimed at transforming temporary housing across London.
The scheme is part of the wider regeneration joint venture between Havering Council and Wates Residential that will deliver up to 5,000 new homes across the borough. The JV says that it also represents wider efforts to tackle spiralling housing costs and demand, which cost councils across the country £2.1 billion annually in temporary accommodation and have resulted in a record number of children living in hotels and B&Bs.
Wates Residential has worked with architects, suppliers, planners, manufacturers and local councils to develop the modular solution being used on the scheme. The pre-designed houses will be twice as fast to construct and will be capable of being relocated to wherever they are needed. Wates’ modular homes also have energy-efficient designs with low-carbon footprints and involve minimal on-site work.
Built to the same standards as permanent housing, the homes will include modern amenities, private bedrooms, family bathrooms, and kitchen and living spaces, helping restore stability to those facing housing insecurity.
Modular homes have a design quality regulation of up to 60 years, meaning that while they provide temporary relief to their inhabitants, they are a long-term solution for councils.
Cllr Graham Williamson, cabinet lead for development and regeneration, said: “We welcome this decision as a positive step forward in our work to provide better temporary housing for local families, and hope this will set a precedent for other councils. These modular homes will offer a significant improvement on current options like hostels and hotels, giving families a safer, more stable place to live at less cost to the taxpayer, while we continue delivering long-term regeneration across the borough.”
Paul Nicholls, regional managing director for London, Wates Residential, said: “This decision shows what’s possible when we take bold approaches to tackling the housing crisis. Councils across the country are spending £2.1billion annually on hotels and hostels that have a devastating impact on their well-being and development. Our temporary modular homes provide a real solution.”
“These homes demonstrate that temporary accommodation can be high-quality, energy-efficient and designed around people’s needs, not just a stopgap, but a real place to live and thrive. We’re proud to be working with Havering Council to deliver a solution that is fast, flexible and focused on families.”
