Can Temporary Housing Construction Help Homelessness?
30/04/2021
How can temporary housing construction offer a solution to UK’s housing crisis? There has been an increasing need for affordable housing in the UK in recent years. The housing crisis was exacerbated by the Covid-19 outbreak and the resulting lockdown, which was especially difficult for the homeless.
The an urgent need to address the housing crisis and homelessness
In response to the housing crisis, the UK government set an ambitious target of 300,000 new homes annually. However, local authorities have struggled to meet this target as they have faced several roadblocks on the way, such as mounting financial pressure due to the pandemic, a declining number of skilled workers, supply chain disruptions and more.
It is time to adapt and turn to new solutions in construction and design to address homelessness and increase the supply of affordable homes in the UK. Here is why temporary housing construction can help achieve this;
Temporary Housing Construction – The Solution to Homelessness and Downturn
Efficiency is paramount
The rising number of homeless persons and the increasing demand for affordable housing means delivery speed is of utmost importance. This is an area where modular housing construction thrives. Modular homes are pre-designed and pre-fabricated in offsite manufacturing factories, thereby circumventing supply chain vulnerabilities that affect traditional construction methods. Modular construction is also far less labour-intensive as it requires a smaller workforce and fewer trades on site.
Sustainability is essential
With the construction sector accounting for 39% of all global carbon emissions and the UK’s goal to meet its 2050 carbon-zero initiatives, delivering affordable homes needs to be driven by sustainable practices. Modular construction is more environmentally friendly than its more-traditional counterparts. It maximises efficiency and minimises material waste through its manufacturing process in highly controlled offsite factories. Temporary housing construction also requires less energy to run and less vehicle traffic to transport the modules to the construction site.
Ensure worker safety
The construction sector, like many others, was impacted by Covid-19 and experienced a loss in productivity initially, before being assigned as key workers to continue throughout lockdowns. While vaccines are being rolled out, it is still essential to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of workers, and observing social distancing is chief among them. Fabricating and assembling modules in a highly controlled offsite factory allows social distancing to be effectively followed. This means that modular construction can maintain high productivity levels even if the Covid-19 safety measures remain in place in the long term.
About Jerram Falkus
We are an experienced family-run construction company committed to giving our clients the best service. We are well-versed in modular housing construction, as evidenced by the successful completion of the Wivenhoe Road and the Weighbridge Modular Housing Construction projects. We can see how the benefits can be applied to build temporary accommodation in an effort to reduce homelessness.
Get in touch with us for more information.
Back