Modular housing pioneer ilke Homes has signed its first deal with Bromford Housing Association to deliver 28 zero-carbon homes in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire.
This is anticipated to be the first of many partnership schemes between the two businesses with ilke Homes having been identified as a partner of choice on Bromford’s £50m MMC framework.
The homes will use photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps and battery storage which, when combined with precision manufactured homes in a factory setting, results in extremely energy efficient homes which significantly outperform typical new build houses. This enhanced energy performance will translate into significant savings on bills at a time when rising energy costs are pushing over six million households into fuel poverty.
Cotswold District Council approved the scheme’s plans in February, with work currently underway. ilke Homes, who has been subcontracted by the site’s main contractor Bromford Developments Limited, will help complete the scheme by summer 2023.
The homes being delivered by ilke Homes are from the company’s ilke ZERO offering – launched in 2021 with the aim to deliver 1,000 operational zero-carbon homes per year for major investors, housing associations, and councils across the UK. The homes have already been trialed in London, Newcastle, Gateshead, Newark, and Sunderland, and are now ready to be rolled out en masse.
The homes will be made available for rent through Bromford Housing Association.
Tom Heathcote, executive director of development at ilke Homes, comments: “ilke Homes are increasingly becoming a partner of choice for housing associations looking to scale up the delivery of energy-efficient, affordable housing. Much like many councils and housing associations across the country, Bromford understands the role MMC has to play in enhancing the build quality of homes and their ability to speed up construction programmes. We look forward to working closely with all delivery partners to bring this scheme forward.
Mike Craggs, development and asset management innovation lead at Bromford Housing Association, said: “Providing affordable homes that are cheaper to run and heat is going to be increasingly important for our customers and these partnerships will allow us to make sure the homes that are provided of the highest, EPC-A standard. We’re thrilled to have signed these contracts with ilke Homes to become our main provider of MMC homes for the years ahead, and are looking forward to work starting on our first development in Gloucestershire.
“Utilising modern methods of construction is key to us delivering the number of affordable, energy efficient homes we are aiming to build during the next five years. Starting with 50 homes in the first year of the contract, we will increase this to up to 200 homes a year by 2025 and are looking forward to getting started on our first site later this year.”
