WORK is underway on a £17 million modular affordable housing development in the Bridgehousehill area of Kilmarnock.
It will see a mixture of 101 two, three, and four-bedroom houses delivered by Connect Modular Ltd, which is part of the Wee House Group, in partnership with Cunninghame Housing Association, East Ayrshire Council, and the Scottish Government.
The new development will be the largest modular low-rise housing development in Scotland. Each of the 101 homes will be constructed inside Connect Modular’s Ayrshire-based manufacturing facility with kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing, and electrics all pre-fitted.
The houses will then be split into modules, transported to site, and craned into position for the final 10% of building work to be completed. Because the houses are constructed offside, Connect Modular said that site preparation works can occur simultaneously leading to a ‘significantly’ condensed project timeline and earlier tenant occupancy.
Jennifer Higgins, MD of Connect Modular, said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to deliver a modular project at this scale. This project is a clear demonstration of Cunninghame, Scottish Government and the council’s confidence in the ability of modular construction to provide better quality homes, to reduce construction waste and emissions, and to enable tenants to move in to their much-needed homes faster.”
Frank Sweeney, chief executive officer for Cunninghame Housing Association, added, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Connect Modular to deliver this important development of 101 new modular homes. This is the first modular construction project undertaken by Cunninghame Housing Association and the largest modular low-rise housing development in Scotland.
“We are excited to be part of this innovative and efficient method of construction. We recognise the significant environmental benefits of the build and that the units will be built in Connect Modular’s Ayrshire factory, to a very high standard, and delivered to site. With the support of our Strategic partners, East Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government, we are able to provide these highly sought after affordable new homes in this popular area of Kilmarnock.”
Housing secretary, Shona Robison, commented, “It’s fantastic to see this development underway which I know will provide high quality affordable homes within the local community and make a real and lasting difference to the lives of the new residents. We are proud of having delivered 111,750 affordable homes since 2007 with over 78,000 for social rent and these new homes will contribute towards our ambitious target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which 70% will be for social rent and 10% in remote, rural and island communities. These 101 new homes for social rent, supported by £10.5 million of Scottish Government investment, are being built to a high standard using offsite construction methods. I recently visited the Connect Modular factory in Cumnock to see the quality for myself and I’m pleased people will benefit from these new homes.”
