With the publication of Oliver Letwin’s initial findings in his Build Out Review, an insight into a new, different and faster method of construction could hardly have been more timely.
Introduction
The conversation is now gathering pace in the construction industry about finding faster ways of delivering high quality, affordable housing.
There is no longer any doubt that the affordable housing crisis cannot be solved by traditional house builders, using traditional methods.
Most people are already aware that modular construction in offsite factories is becoming part of the answer. But it is slow, it takes major investment, and it has significant limitations.
Now SIP Volumetric House Manufacture (SIP Volumetric) has entered the market. It is already known to important stakeholders, from central and local government, through housing associations, to traditional house builders.
SIP Volumetric has something for everyone who needs to provide affordable homes.
How is SIP Volumetric different from modular offsite factories?
- A SIP Volumetric temporary assembly factory may be constructed in a few weeks, on the actual housing development site.
- The entire factory may be unbolted and removed to a new housing development site once a site is finished.
- There is no restriction on the style or size of home that may be built in a SIP Volumetric assembly factory.
- Whereas a modular offsite factory creates a large carbon footprint, both in the receipt of materials and the delivery of finished houses by road from the factory to the site, a SIP Volumetric method requires very little road transportation.
As seen with the failure of many modular offsite companies like Ilke, L & G, Top Hat, etc, theirs is not a solution to the affordable housing crisis where SIP Volumetric is.
Its inventor is committed to delivering 15,000 homes a year by 2031, and this is a minimum number; the system is capable of scaling to greater numbers as required by the market.
What can SIP Volumetric House Manufacturing deliver?
SIP Volumetric is a new way of delivering homes. It becomes cost-effective at 100+ units, and a single factory can output up to 500 homes per annum on a single site. However, if a larger volume is required, then multiple factories can operate on the same site.
Houses can be of any design and finish.
The method was invented by Simon Allso, an entrepreneur who has licensed the intellectual property to construction group, Low Carbon Construction, headed by Director Bridgette Farrow.
A temporary manufacturing community of around 100-150 workers is set up per factory, and so local people are given the employment opportunity close to their homes.
Five houses can be assembled simultaneously in the factory within six days. The houses are constructed a storey at a time, including the roof, within the factory environment.
Each storey is fully finished inside the temporary onsite factory, with electrical wiring, kitchen, bathrooms, plumbing, heating, fire suppression system etc. already in place, and is then moved the short distance to its plot, where foundations are already in place, then assembled storey by storey within a few hours.
Vital building components
SIP Volumetric House Manufacture relies on the use of Structural Insulated Panels: high performance, lightweight prefabricated panels, used in floors, walls and roofs. Low Carbon Construction uses SIPs manufactured by Hemsec, consisting of a polyurethane insulation core bonded between two layers of high-density facing, Oriented Strand Board grade 3 (OSB/3). During manufacture, the insulation core is autohesively bonded to the facings providing a more reliable adhesion than traditional bonding processes. This is essential to the load bearing capacity.
All SIP panels used by LCC are ETA accredited.
The SIPs are sprayed with a Polyurea sealant by Prokol, making them watertight and thermally even more efficient.
The mission-critical role of supply partners and team members
A well-orchestrated team of over 70 supply partners supports SIP Volumetric House Manufacturing and includes Hemsec and Prokol as well as major names Aarslef, Ainscough, Topps Tiles, Howdens Joinery and Vent-Axia.
The SIP Volumetric model is supported by a team of specialist team members, which allows it to retain the flexibility required for delivery of large volumes of housing.
Skills and weather
SIP Volumetric House Manufacture is not constrained by the labour or skills shortage in the construction industry because relatively few employees are required per site. They are also of a slightly different skill set from those used on most sites.
The supply partner infrastructure makes sure every other need is covered.
SIP Volumetric House Manufacture is virtually independent of weather constraints; the work, aside installation on the plot, is carried out inside the factory.
Conclusion
The construction industry, as it stands, whether using traditional methods or modular is not capable of providing the volume of affordable housing required urgently in the UK.
When SIP Volumetric House Manufacture is physically introduced 2026/2027, the picture will change dramatically.
Taking action
For house builders who need to discharge their affordable homes obligations under section 106, Low Carbon Construction will deliver these using SIP Volumetric.
Local Authorities and Housing Associations with land which requires affordable housing should contact Low Carbon Construction.
