The first modular home in Wiltshire has been installed by Rollalong for Wiltshire Council at a site in Durrington.
Manufactured by Dorset-based Rollalong, the two-bedroom accessible bungalow on New Road in Durrington is the first to be commissioned by the council using Modern Methods of Construction, or MMC.
Wiltshire Council is delivering more than 150 such homes across the county. Factory construction means they are quality checked, highly insulated and draught-free, and arrive decorated and already fitted out with kitchens and bathrooms.
Councillor Phil Alford, cabinet member for housing at Wiltshire Council, said: “It’s really rewarding for everyone involved in the project to see this modular building take shape on-site.”
“The team from Rollalong are experts at manoeuvring the units precisely into place and the bungalow will be ready for occupation in a fraction of the time on site that it would take in a conventionally built home.”
“We are adapting to the demand for more sustainable and efficient methods of construction and adopting this growing technology to deliver around 150 new homes across the county.”
“With their brick slips, render and roof tiles, it’s hard to tell our MMC homes from traditional builds. The quality of the building is really impressive – inspectors from the National House Building Council have monitored every step of the process. I’m looking forward to rolling out this technology to more sites across the county and to seeing our housebuilding continue to make progress in such an innovative way.”
These modular homes are zero carbon in use thanks to air source heat pumps, smart controls, and solar panels. The modules can be configured as bungalows, flats, or houses to suit residents’ needs.
Last year, Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council joined forces to address the housing crisis, appointing Rollalong via the South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) Offsite Construction of New Homes framework to build nearly 1,000 new homes over the next three years.
Steve Chivers, managing director of Rollalong, said: “We were delighted to be awarded the contract by Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council to design and build these modular homes that will provide a range of high-quality, affordable housing for everyone.”
“We are building the homes of the future designed for living today. We want to demystify modular housing and champion the benefits that this style of housing can provide in the face of a nationwide housing crisis.”
“We are now creating jobs and apprenticeships in the South West, using local supply chain partners, and creating systemic change in our transition towards a circular economy in the region.”
SWPA, the South West hub of the LHC Procurement Group, is a not-for-profit central purchasing body which develops frameworks for public-sector use. It prioritises sustainable and environmentally friendly construction methods, aiding in the production and implementation of enhanced energy performance and net zero carbon projects.
SWPA regional manager, Penny Searson, said: “The site at Durrington is a great example of the collaboration between Wiltshire Council, Rollalong and SWPA in providing high-quality homes which are cost efficient and eco-friendly, include net zero appliances and are no different aesthetically from traditional builds.”
“This two-bedroom accessible bungalow for Durrington is the first of Wiltshire Council’s MMC homes and further demonstrates the need and provision for more MMC housing.”
