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Prefab homes "could solve UK housing shortage"

Tuesday, 25 January 2011 2:03 PM

Britain's property market could soon see the return of prefab homes as a practical solution to the UK's ongoing shortage of affordable housing.

According to an independent report, commissioned by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the cheap house-building method, whereby homes are built off-site and 'dropped' into position, could once again represent the future of residential property development.

In the past, prefab housing earned itself a reputation for poor design and flimsy construction. This was chiefly during the post-war period of the 1940s and '50s, when thousands were mass-produced in an attempt to tackle the home shortage.

However, modern versions, often dubbed 'modular homes', are still relatively cheap, with prices starting as low as £20,000, and commonly feature an array of eco-friendly, sustainable materials.

The researchers claimed that this type of residential dwelling could provide a simple yet affordable method of tackling the UK's current housing deficit, with around 80,000 more new homes required each year to meet demand.

Loughborough University's Dr Chris Goodier, co-author of the report, said: "Many major mortgage providers are already willing to lend against these structures, which has been a problem in the past."

"First-time buyers could find them a highly practical way of getting onto the property ladder," he added.

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