Modular housing: helping to solve the social housing crisis?
The social housing crisis is a pressing issue, with over 120,000 households living in temporary or transitional accommodation as of June 2023.
This number includes more than 140,000 children facing instability and uncertainty – many of whom are living in bedsits or other low-quality accommodation. Local authorities are grappling with unsustainable costs, having spent at least £1.7 billion on temporary accommodation in 2022/23.
In this piece for the Municipal Journal, Helen Bunch, Executive Managing Director for Residential at Wates Group, highlights a promising solution: modular housing. This innovative approach offers a versatile, cost-effective way to provide high-quality, low-carbon homes quickly.
In Cardiff, Wates Group is partnering with Cardiff Council to construct 235 modular homes, with more planned. These homes are not only alleviating the temporary accommodation crisis but also reducing council expenditures and improving living standards for families.
Modular housing isn’t a silver bullet for the housing crisis, but it’s a scalable, affordable option that could transform the fortunes of those that rely on transitional accommodation, as well as the local authorities providing it.
