A social housing provider is partnering with a local modular buildings manufacturer to provide new, sustainable and affordable homes in Peacehaven, East Sussex.
The partnership between Stonewater and Boutique Modern is paving the way for 40 energy-efficient modular homes to be delivered on Cripps Avenue, with the support of Lewes District Council and Baily Garner.
This is the first project in which Stonewater has teamed up with Boutique Modern, the UK’s first certified B Corp modular construction company — a global accreditation certifying the highest social and environmental performance standards are used.
All 40 homes will be constructed using modern methods of construction (MMC) in Boutique Modern’s factory in Newhaven, located approximately three miles from the planned development.
The short distance between the construction factory and the development site means that the entire project, from the build process through to the transportation of the completed homes, will be as carbon efficient as possible.
The site, which was formerly home to a family run plant hire company that closed its doors in April 2019, will now welcome 31 new homes for affordable rent — comprising of three one-bedroom flats, six two-bedroom flats, thirteen two-bedroom houses and nine three-bedroom houses.
Stonewater acquired the land with planning consent to redevelop the area into affordable homes and also purchased a derelict resident property, adjacent to the site, to provide a further nine homes — seven two-bedroom houses and two three-bedroom houses — also for affordable rent.
Matt Crucefix, Director of Development (South and West) at Stonewater, said: “When working with any new partner it’s important to us that we team up with businesses and organisations that share our values and are aligned on our commitment to providing high-quality affordable homes.
“Not only is Boutique Modern able to build truly sustainable homes that ensure each home’s energy performance is optimised to maximise fuel efficiency for our customers, but its local scale delivery model is focussed on maximising the social value of all its developments — something that is also important to us.
“By developing these new homes, we’ll not only be improving people’s lives and providing them with the opportunity to get their foot on the property ladder or have a place that they can proudly call home, but we’ll be supporting the region’s local economy and utilising its supply chain to create new opportunities for local people.”
As a result of the partnership and to support Boutique Modern in delivering the project, the modular homes manufacturer will also be employing three new apprentices.
Os Kamil, Associate Partner and Employers Agent at Baily Garner, commented: “We are thrilled to be working with Stonewater and Boutique Modern providing Employer’s Agent and Quality Control Inspector services for this project.
“Creating a collaborative relationship with a modular supplier really helps address many of the blockages in today’s industry that can prevent delivery of consistent high quality and energy-efficient new homes. To form such a relationship with a local ‘B Corp’ manufacturer so close to the site, which really leverages all the social value benefits that are not always available through MMC, is really exciting.”
As part of its quality assurance, Boutique Modern undertakes frequent ‘health checks’ on the materials used to manufacture its homes. Whilst the company is working towards removing all inherent plastics in the insulation and other materials used to construct its homes, no single-use plastic will be used to develop Stonewater’s modular home scheme.
Lucas Shone, Project Director at Boutique Modern, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Stonewater on this project. It’s fantastic to be working with a company whose core values align so closely with our own. We’re excited to get started on the scheme which we hope will be the first of many local projects for the partnership.”
Header image shows 40 new sustainable and affordable homes to be built using modern methods of construction on Cripps Avenue, Peacehaven.
