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The government鈥檚 拢60,000 home initiative to change the way the industry looks at housing procurement has now resulted in nearly 1000 homes under construction, with more planned, using off-site manufacture. The Department for Communities and Local Government and English Partnerships have produced a report entitled Lessons Learnt: Designed for Manufacture 鈥� the challenge to build a quality home for 拢60K. Below we highlight the lessons identified in the report and Peter Caplehorn of Scott Brownrigg spells them out for specifiers.

1

Costs

The report says: 鈥淐onstruction costs can be tamed.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淒efine what is required and ensure that costs are based on fully worked-up designs, not theoretical rates.鈥�

2

Space

The report says: 鈥淒ensity with houses, not just flats.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淟ook very closely at the relationship of public to private spaces, creating both in harmony with the dwelling.鈥�

3

Flexibility

The report says: 鈥淎 house is for ever, not just the first sale.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淏uild in flexibility by using the roof space, providing a basement, making internal walls relocatable and making plumbing systems easy to replace.鈥�

4

Quality

The report says: 鈥淨uality and cost are compatible.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淓nsure that the original prototype is thoroughly thought through. Factory production can then ensure that quality and performance are maintained and, importantly, so is the cost.鈥�

5

Variety

The report says: 鈥淥ne-thousand-and-one house types.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淗omeowners鈥� tastes can be satisfied by keeping the underlying specification the same, but allowing subtle variations to finishes.鈥�

6

Innovation

The report says: 鈥淚nnovation is for everyone.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淭here is plenty to be learned about OSM from the examples here, although challenges still remain in areas of thermal and acoustic performance.鈥�

7

New ideas

The report says: 鈥淣ew players bring new ideas.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淭he OSM arena offers opportunities for non-construction companies to get involved with their fresh perspective and innovative ideas.鈥�

8

Outlook

The report says: 鈥淔uture-proof homes.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淔eatures like roof lights, better than regulations U-values, and flexible use of space will allow interiors to be easily altered to match homeowners鈥� changing requirements.

9

Planning

The report says: 鈥淧lace and product must work together.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淢asterplanning and infrastructure design around the dwellings is of equal importance if they are to be successful.鈥�

10

Vision

The report says: 鈥淰ision can be achieved when government, industry and community get together.鈥�

Scott Brownrigg says: 鈥淭he first homes will be occupied this summer. Keeping that vision fresh is now the challenge.鈥�

Despite several shortcomings and a hesitant start, the project has been able to demonstrate that factory manufacture can create huge benefits across the housing sector. If the specifier can nail down the requirements, industry can respond, so there is no need to take refuge in the conventional. The next challenge is to develop the momentum and turn OSM into the industry it should and can be 鈥� houses that really are fit for 21st-century living.

Check points

• Specifiers can use the 拢60,000 programme to set the example and for inspiration.
• Ensure that you make clear that your prescribed route is OSM.
• Research expertise and knowledge are available but need to be sought out.
• The conventional industry will be very persuasive in resisting OSM.
• Shortcomings in the specification will be very obvious.