Three appointed to £600m offsite housing framework

Ilke Homes, Impact Modular and TopHat have been picked to deliver modular homes for an alliance of 29 housing associations and local authorities known as Building Better, backed by the NHF. The suppliers will deliver at least 800 modular houses and apartments by 2026 through the agreement. NHF said it expects the pipeline to grow as new social-housing providers join the framework.

Each supplier has been allocated one slot on the framework: TopHat will deliver low-rise housing and low and medium-rise apartments in lot one; Ilke Homes will supply low-rise homes in lot two; and Impact Modular will deliver low and medium-rise apartments in the third lot.

Building Better project director Trina Chakravarti said the framework meant housing providers no longer had to explore the modular market alone: “We want to change this through early, honest partnership-working between social-housing providers, manufacturers and residents, sharing information and learning together to improve MMC and overcome traditional barriers,” she said.

Procurement for Housing chief executive Steve Malone said: “By assessing the MMC market, narrowing the field and appointing just three manufacturers, our goal was to reduce much of the due diligence and procurement complexity that housing associations and local authorities often face around MMC.”

The new homes will meet the government’s mandate for all new homes to be ‘zero-carbon-ready’ – with 80 per cent lower emissions – from 2025 onwards. They prioritise using energy-efficient materials, such as better insulation, over green-energy generation, through items such as solar panels.

The win for Ilke Homes comes after the modular specialist has strengthened its management team, with the appointment of ex-Crest Nicholson chief executive Patrick Bergin as chief financial officer in June.