Yorkon News Archives

01/11/2002 – Yorkon gives evidence to House of Commons Select Committee on affordable housing

Modular building manufacturer and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, has given evidence to a House of Commons Select Committee Inquiry looking at the issue of affordable housing.

Keith Blanshard, Director and General Manager of Yorkon was invited before the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Committee for Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions on Wednesday 30th October 2002. The Committee's inquiry into affordable housing, the effectiveness of regeneration initiatives and planning for sustainable housing, will inform the Government's long-term programme of action to build and maintain thriving, inclusive and sustainable communities in all regions.

Issues debated included the potential for off-site construction to deliver affordable housing more quickly and to higher standards; how prefabrication has changed radically since the 1950s and 60s, and how modular manufacturers such as Yorkon are increasing production capacity to meet the Government's targets for new housing.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate about meeting the shortfall in quality affordable housing and the role of off-site construction", said Keith Blanshard, Director and General Manager of Yorkon.

"Traditional construction methods must be challenged - quality standards are too low and the process is complex, slow and confrontational. These problems are compounded by the serious shortage in skilled labour that the building industry is currently facing. If the Government's targets for new homes are to be delivered, there have to be some fundamental changes to the housebuilding industry."

He added, "By combining good design with production methods similar to car manufacture, modular construction can provide affordable homes in half the time and to significantly higher standards. However, we believe the Government has a crucial role to play in encouraging more enlightened and innovative developers to invest in off-site construction."

Also present giving evidence to the Select Committee were:

Rt Hon Lord Rooker, Minister of State for Housing, Planning, Regeneration and Regulatory Reform
Dr Norman Perry, Chief Executive of the Housing Corporation
John Miles, formerly Member of the Housing Forum Board and Chairman of the Off-site Working Party

Editor's Notes

1. As a subsidiary of Portakabin, Yorkon is part of the Shepherd Building Group – one of Europe's largest privately owned building companies. Around 1,000 staff are employed at the Group's 60-acre manufacturing centre in York.

2. Off-site construction involves the manufacture of steel-framed structural modules in a controlled factory environment, using technology similar to car production, whilst the foundations are completed on site. The modules are delivered by road where they are craned into position in just a few days.

3. The benefits of modular construction include:

Speed – up to 50 per cent faster
Less disruption
Construction is safer, quieter, cleaner
Busy and constrained sites can be developed
Guaranteed quality
Better cost control
Less wastage of materials
Reduced future maintenance
Sustainability issues are addressed.

4. Murray Grove in Hackney was the UK's first multi-storey affordable housing development to be built in a factory. Developed by Peabody Trust and manufactured by Yorkon, this award-winning scheme has been credited with changing the perception of modular construction. The 5 storey apartments were craned on to pre-prepared foundations on a brownfield site in just a few days, complete with bathrooms, kitchens, plumbing, heating, carpets, tiling, doors and windows.

5. Sixth Avenue in York for Yorkshire Housing was the first factory-built multi-storey affordable housing scheme outside London. It comprises 24 high quality apartments providing a mix of 3, 2 and 1 bedroom homes. Here, the modular building method reduced the development programme by around 15 months, helping to address the serious shortfall in the number of affordable homes in York.