Partnership sees delivery of first modular scheme in Milton Keynes

Top five housebuilder Bellway has selected leading modular housing company ilke Homes to deliver 40 factory-built homes on a site in Milton Keynes, branded Tattenhoe Park.

The wider scheme will comprise 160 homes built from steel and timber-framed homes as part of a pilot project being led by Homes England.

Homes England’s pilot projects are delivering 1,800 homes across the country as part of a study into the benefits of the Modern Method of Construction (MMC). These include improved quality and energy efficiency, and a reduction in construction waste.

A recent report from the House of Lords’ Built Environment Committee suggested factory-built housing will be instrumental in speeding up development across the UK.

It is the first time ilke Homes and Bellway have partnered to deliver homes in the UK, with the modular housing pioneer already having signed a number of other deals with some of the country’s biggest housebuilders.  

ilke Homes will be delivering a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes for Bellway, for both affordable and open market tenures. 

Savills estimates that the proportion of homes built using MMC over the next decade will double from today’s 10% to closer to 20%.

The announcement follows news from last year that ilke Homes has an order book with a value exceeding £200 million, despite being founded just four years ago. The company aims to recruit up to 500 new employees in order to boost production capacity and become a top 10 housebuilder by volume within the next five years.

Bellway, part of the FTSE 250 Index, is due to start work on-site in March, with ilke Homes expected to deliver the first homes in August.

Tom Heathcote, executive director of development at ilke Homes, comments: “Proof of both concept and delivery means that ilke Homes has become a partner of choice for the UK’s biggest housebuilders.”

“It’s great to partner with Bellway Homes at Tattenhoe Park, a truly innovative, Homes England-backed scheme that is aiming to demonstrate the benefits of MMC by collecting granular data on the performance of our own precision-engineered homes.”

“ilke Homes’ leading role in Make Modular, the UK’s first trade association for MMC providers, means we’re at the forefront of creating the next steps for modular house building in the UK. The body will accelerate and advance the MMC agenda through one strong voice rather than a series of disparate ones.”

Paul Smits, managing director at Bellway Northern Home Counties, adds: “Bellway is pleased to confirm this partnership with ilke Homes to deliver our first modular homes at Tattenhoe Park. We have developed our plans with ilke’s input throughout, and their expertise has accelerated our learning around their products and processes.”

“Now contracts are signed, we look forward to seeing these new homes being manufactured by ilke Homes and preparing to install the units at Tattenhoe Park.”