Cardiff Council installs its first modular homes

For the first time, Cardiff Council has used offsite construction to deliver nine modular homes, creating permanent family homes for residents on the housing waiting list.

Wates Residential and Cardiff Council installed the city’s first sustainable modular homes at a brownfield site on Crofts Street in Plasnewydd.

The two-bedroom properties were built using modern methods of construction (MMC), through a joint venture between architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and AECOM.

Using these methods enabled the homes to be built and installed in record time, while making the properties 90% more energy efficient than standard homes built to current regulations.

The houses will also have solar panels on their roofs and MEV Heat Recovery with electric heating elements, so that they will not need connecting to the mains gas service.

Cllr Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Cardiff Council, said: ‘The installation of the modular units at Crofts Street is a very exciting day for us as we have eagerly been awaiting their arrival. Increasing the availability of affordable housing for people in Cardiff is a high priority for the Council, but we also want to make sure that the new homes we are delivering are good quality properties that are as ‘green’ as they possibly can be for the benefits of our tenants by reducing fuel poverty and the benefit of our wider population, because it’s the right, sustainable thing to do.

 ‘Right across our housing development programme, we are working on getting as close to zero carbon as we can with innovative construction methods and technologies that surpass current building regulations, minimise environmental impact and reduce ongoing running costs for tenants.

 ‘I’m delighted that the first new tenants in the development will be in before Christmas and they can begin enjoying living in their new Cardiff Living homes so soon.’

Edward Rees, Wates Residential Regional Director, added: ‘It is incredible to see this unused plot of land transformed into affordable homes. We care about the communities in which we operate and aim to design and build homes that put local people first. And, by using innovative modern methods of construction, we’re not only able to deliver these units just five weeks from now, but we are also creating homes that will support Cardiff and its residents in reducing their energy consumption and contributing to a more sustainable future.

‘We are committed to eliminating waste and carbon from our operations by 2025, well ahead of the Government’s own environmental targets, and we’re working collaboratively with customers, supply chain and joint venture partners to find better and more innovative ways to reduce waste, reduce energy consumption and enhance the natural environment.’

Photo supplied by Cardiff Council