South Somerset Homes building new homes using cutting edge building technology
8 March 2004

From right to left: Versha Koria ( Housing Corporation ), Lynne Axford (SSDC), Garry Taylor (Calfordseaden), Barbara Malcolm (Mayoress of Chard), Patrick Dormon (Managing Director, Space4), John Malcolm (Mayor and Councillor of Chard), Chris Hyde (Area Director, ROK), Geoff Atkinson (Chief Executive, South Somerset Homes), Nigel Mermagen (Chard Councillor), James Macdonald (Space4)

South Somerset Homes is the first housing association in the UK to build new homes using cutting edge building technology in the form of Space4; the UK's largest producer of fast track off site manufactured construction processes.

Four new homes for rent are being built at a site already owned by South Somerset Homes in Chard in Somerset. They will be two bedroom flats for local people and they will be completed in April 2004.

The main body of the home (structural walls, roofing and flooring) will be supplied by Space 4 with main contractor ROK completing the internal fitting out and external cladding. The panel system construction process provides South Somerset Homes with an innovative approach that reduces the total construction time by up to 50%. The Space4 construction components are assembled on-site in 1–2 working days: typically a 6-week process for masonry construction.

The insulation panels enable the homes to exceed the Government's latest Building Regulation Part L requirements with outstanding thermal performance, typically scoring a maximum 10 points against the ‘Ecohomes' building measure.

The project has been jointly funded by South Somerset Homes, the Housing Corporation and South Somerset District Council with a total build cost of £280,000.

Thursday 4 March 2004Geoff Atkinson, Chief Executive of South Somerset Homes, said “South Somerset Homes seeks to be at the cutting edge of building technology. By utilising methods such as Space4, we can save time and money during the mission to provide affordable homes for local people.”

Chris Hyde, Area Director at ROK said, “ROK is the mould breaker of our industry and is keen to use modern methods of construction which improves quality, construction time, costs and addresses sustainability. We pride ourselves in delivering the best service by working together and developing our relationships. This is just the first project in working in partnership to provide new homes across Somerset.”

View from Victoria Avenue in Chard, looking at the four two-bedroom flats