New MMC homes on site in Bristol in another UK first

Four weeks ago, we were delighted to join a delegation visiting three pioneering new Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) sites in Bristol. As another UK first, we were thrilled to see these homes becoming a reality, and they will soon provide high-quality, low-carbon homes for people in Bristol. 

While these new MMC homes incorporate a host of recycled materials and renewable energy technologies, how they are built is not the most  exciting thing about them.  The most innovate element of these homes is who they have been built by, and how they have been delivered. 

The homes are demountable, which means that, at some point in the future, these homes can be moved to a different site and continue to be used.  This allows the council to use land that may otherwise be held for a long time for future development or wider regeneration and deliver much needed quality housing, now.

These new homes have not been developed by, or bought by the council, rather they are owned by MMC Homebuilding (funded by social impact investor Gresham House), and leased back to the council. This increases the supply of desperately needed quality homes at affordable rent levels.

The council is leasing three council-owned sites to the housing supplier on a ‘meanwhile’ basis, in this instance a period of 7 years. The homes themselves are designed and built by MMC Homebuilding in their offsite manufacturing facility in Gloucester and are fully demountable and relocatable. This means in 7 years’ time the council can choose to extend the duration of the lease on the current sites, return the homes to the supplier to lease to someone else, or move the homes to another site. The model  provides flexibility on the future land-use while also meeting the council’s need for homes. 

Angus Fraser, CEO of MMC Homebuilding said he has been thrilled to work with Bristol City Council, Prisoners Building Homes and Gresham House to bring this innovative concept to fruition, adding “These new homes will provide much needed Temporary Accommodation and we are proud to be part of this collaboration and the training and employment opportunities created within the production process.”

Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, said: “Innovative solutions such as this partnership, which enable us to build homes quickly, sustainably and efficiently and make the best use of the space we have in the city, are so important in tackling the housing crisis, which sees over 21,000 households on Bristol’s social housing waiting list and over 1,600 households in Temporary Accommodation.

The council has a legal duty to provide housing to those that are legally homeless and vulnerable. Often those affected are housed in Temporary Accommodation (TA) and in Bristol there are over 1,600 households currently in TA. This innovative lease arrangement provides a cost effective and practical way to meet the council’s need to provide homes for TA.

Another innovative aspect of this programme is their delivery through the national Prisoners Building Homes Programme. The programme is seeking to reduce reoffending by giving prison leavers and serving prisoners an opportunity to gain construction skills and qualifications, through training and employment programmes with MMC suppliers (including MMC Homebuilding). 

Sophie Baker, Prisoners Building Homes Programme Manager said,  “Thanks to Bristol City Council and MMC Homebuilding, this ground-breaking solution, which unlocks micro-sites on meanwhile use land for cash-strapped local authorities, has paved the way for unlocking land across the nation to address local housing needs. By employing prisoners (serving and post-release), this new innovative solution not only supports local authorities to deliver quality, sustainable, eco-friendly homes at pace, but creates safer communities, as providing employment opportunities substantially reduces reoffending.” 

As these homes are completed and occupied, the council are looking for further sites to expand this programme and other local authorities are keen to replicate the model.