BRE Innovation Park Hosts Volumetric Housing Concept

The BRE Innovation Park, created in 2005 to trial, test and demonstrate low and zero carbon homes and buildings of the future, is now host to two new housing units. These demonstrate the ultimate in super-efficient, factor finished, configurable dwellings built to the Scottish Building Regulation Gold Standard, with one unit having a completely building-integrated photovoltaic roof.Housing decision-makers across the UK will now be able to explore the affordable, quick-to-build volumetric housing solutions brought to market by Üserhuus AG and Tigh Grian Ltd.

At the heart of the project is the volumetric unit, comprising a single-bed apartment or a combination of units forming houses of up to four or five bedrooms. Manufactured in Wales using a structural insulated panel system (SIPs), the 4.9m x 11.4m modules can be assembled into units of up to five storeys in detached, terraced, tenement, semi-detached and four-in-a-block configurations giving occupants and housing associations a lo cost, energy-efficient solution without compromising on good design and comfort.

Each unit is built, fully serviced, fitted out and decorated practically ready for occupation upon leaving the factory, when it is transported via lorry to be laid on pre-prepared foundations. With EPC B ratings, each unit is fully insulated and heated using a whole house mechanical heat recovery ventilation system, with wallmounted electric panel heaters. Director of the BRE Innovation Park, Dr David Kelly said: ‘We have a chronic shortage of housing in the UK – we need to deliver 250,000 homes a year to meet market demand – last year we managed 118,000, less than half. We need to find new and better ways to deliver and these homes are a step in the right direction. “What is really impressive about the home aside from its affordability and sustainability is that it reduces end to end construction time by half, so 8 weeks from factory to completion on site – currently the average home takes a minimum of 16 weeks to build. This approach could really help us make significant progress with volume delivery.’