Consideration was given to a report proposing the delivery of twelve bungalows for older people through a pilot to test alternative modern construction methods. Funding for the pilot would come from the Housing Revenue Account and, subject to confirmation, grant funding from the Sheffield City Region’s Housing Fund.
‘Modern methods of construction’ (MMC) was a generic term used to cover several different types of homes that were manufactured in a factory environment and either fully or partially assembled in the factory, or the component parts were assembled on site. MMC could provide an efficient alternative to traditional construction methods.
Until the procurement exercise had been completed, it was not possible to analysis property lifespan and lifecycle costings. A robust appraisal would be carried out to ensure the property demonstrated long term value for money to the Council.
The proposal for each site was set out below:-
· Symonds Avenue, Rawmarsh – eight bungalows.
· Hounsfield Crescent, East Herringthorpe – two bungalows.
· Hounsfield Road, East Herringthorpe – two bungalows.
The bungalow sites were either low demand garage sites or undeveloped HRA land, which have varying degrees of nuisance issues. If this pilot proved to be successful this could provide a delivery route for many of the other 200-300 HRA owned small sites in the borough. Whilst groundworks and the construction of foundations were still required, the homes could be delivered to the site as completed units (depending on the specific product). Consequently the number of traffic movements to and from site was reduced as there were fewer large delivery vehicles.
Relevant Ward Members had been briefed
The estimated project costs were set out in Appendix 2, but it was noted the funding for the MMC was via HRA Revenue Reserves and Sheffield City Region.
This report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-scrutiny process who were in support of the recommendations, but were asking Cabinet to consider aligning this project with the work of the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group on housing to avoid duplication and for future proposals to detail how the Council would market and promote the benefits of modern methods of construction for affordable homes.
Resolved:- (1) That the use of the identified sites to deliver affordable housing using modern methods of construction be approved.
(2) That a further report be submitted to the November 2018 Cabinet meeting detailing the outline business case, recommending contract partners and seeking approval for the use of Housing Revenue Account capital resources for the pilot up to maximum of the amount set out in Appendix 2 of the report submitted following a procurement exercise.
(3) That this project be aligned with the work of the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group on housing to avoid duplication.
(4) That future proposals set out in detail how the Council would market and promote the benefits of modern methods of construction for affordable homes.