Modular housing could be used for affordable homes

Guernsey’s Environment and Infrastructure Committee is planning to investigate modern methods of construction to try to ease housing supply pressures.

There have been concerns about how quickly new housing can go up to cope with a shortage of affordable homes.

Environment & Infrastructure is hoping that modern methods of construction, such as modular housing, could be used to ease Guernsey’s housing and construction supply pressures.

The committee is also considering which modern methods of construction would be most appropriate for Guernsey, and how these can be supplied, delivered and installed locally.

Environment & Infrastructure president Lindsay de Sausmarez said that technology that claimed to accelerate the rate of delivering homes and keep costs down was something the States would take a serious interest in.

‘When it comes to housing, speed of delivery is an important factor, but so is the safety and quality of the homes being built,’ she said.

‘We need to know whether modern methods of construction are safe and durable, and specifically which methods are most appropriate for Guernsey in the context of our local conditions and requirements, such as our climate, transport logistics and their deliverability through our local skills base.

‘We believe at least some of these modern methods of construction could work well for us in Guernsey, helping to deliver more good quality homes more quickly, and potentially even at a lower cost.

‘That’s what we’re aiming for.’

Several approaches have been put forward for use locally, including volumetric modular, micro homes and pods. The new investigations will consider the full range of options available to see which methods are most suitable for Guernsey.

Suitability depends on several factors, including transport logistics, building regulations, planning requirements, fire safety, site constraints, infrastructure requirements, longevity, local climate and the local skills base.

The idea has been floated before, with developers of Leale’s Yard taking States officials and a senior politician to a residential scheme in Kent to see the modular construction methods wanted for use in Guernsey.

The latest investigation will deliver workstream 1D of the Guernsey Housing Plan and follows on from other recently announced workstreams, including a review into downsizing and how to stimulate more and faster completion of private developments.

Source: Guernsey Press