黑洞社区

Six manufacturers have been appointed to a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for the provision of panelised modular homes.

Future Built, LoCal Homes, Project Etopia, Roe Timberframe, Sigmat and Starship Homes are the first firms selected by Procurement for Housing (PfH) and 黑洞社区 Better for the framework.

The DPS is worth 拢600m over four years and will help clients procure category 2 modern methods of construction systems 鈥� two-dimensional panel systems which are built in-factory before being assembled on site.

It will run alongside 黑洞社区 Better鈥檚 initial framework which launched in July last year and covers category 1 volumetric systems, which see homes constructed in the factory and sent to site in three-dimensional form.

Members of 黑洞社区 Better, an alliance of 29 housing associations and local councils, supported by the National Housing Federation, have put nearly 40 schemes through the volumetric framework since its launch.

黑洞社区 Better aims to help the social housing sector produce around 5,000 MMC properties by 2026.

The DPS means additional panelised manufacturers can join through the four years 鈥� though manufacturers must be certified by the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme or assessed by building warranty provider the National House 黑洞社区 Council.

>>> 5 minutes with 鈥� Trina Chakravarti at 黑洞社区 Better

Trina Chakravarti, project director of 黑洞社区 Better, said social housing organisation had historically been wary of panelised manufacturers, uncertain of whether firms were viable long-term.

She said a solution was needed that would 鈥渟till provide high standards and ease of access鈥� but didn鈥檛 鈥渃lip the wings of manufacturers operating in such a fluid environment鈥�.

鈥淎 major benefit of setting up a DPS is the learning,鈥� said John Bellamy, category manager for construction and sustainability at PfH. 鈥淎s an alliance, we鈥檒l be able to grow our understanding of what housing organisations actually require with category 2 and the technical solutions they gravitate to.鈥�