Stockton-on-Tees based house builder, Thirteen, has been given the go ahead to start work early next year on an innovative new housing scheme in Hartlepool.
Work will involve redeveloping the site at Newholm Court for 31 modular homes.
Modular homes are manufactured off site in a controlled factory environment, ensuring house are delivered twice the speed of traditional construction and to a high quality.
This innovative development is being delivered by Thirteen in partnership with Engie and ilke Homes. It will include a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes and once completed ilke Homes will transport the modules from their factory in Knaresborough, Yorkshire.
Ian Wardle, Thirteen’s chief executive, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Engie and ilke Homes on this innovative initiative.
“Using this modern method of construction offers a process that’s quicker, more environmentally friendly and results in a truly high-quality home for customers.
“The homes will be built off site in a factory, where they’ll be fully fitted with kitchens, bathrooms, heating, electrics, roofs, brickwork, flooring, stairs etc. Once the foundations have been completed the homes will be delivered to site and then lifted onto the foundations by crane. It’s really exciting for all involved”.
Andrew McIntosh, Regional Managing Director at ENGIE, said: “It’s a delight to be able to once again work with Thirteen and ilke Homes to deliver an innovative modular homes project and show both prospective residents – and members of the public – the extremely high-quality of factory-built homes.
“ENGIE has a lot of experience, working across both traditional and modular housing schemes and we’re delighted to bring our expertise to this project. Some of our recent modular builds, include Somerset Place in Newcastle and the ground-breaking Gateshead Innovation Village, all providing exceptional homes for the communities in which they are built.”
Colleagues from Thirteen’s new homes delivery team visited ilke Homes factory recently to see for themselves how the homes are constructed and came away very impressed.
Stuart Poulter, development co-ordinator for the scheme, said: “I was impressed by the scale of the factory and how homes moved through the different stages of the factory from a steel frame to a full unit with fully integrated kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms that is all decorated ready for transport.
“On the day we visited the weather was dreadful, but work continued. If these properties were being built on a construction site there would have been delays due to the weather.
“There was a show home at the end of the factory visit and you couldn’t tell that it was a modular home. This is an incredibly exciting times for Thirteen and the construction industry and we should embrace the innovation of modular building.”
