UK INDUSTRY NEWS Ikea & Skanska’s Housing Move to the UK Welcomed
increased efficiency. His aim is to create homes which suit the pockets of those on average incomes. “Modern methods of construction can deliver on all of these, which is why investments in offsite solutions have increased significantly,” he said. “BoKlok homes are built using a smart, industrialised and efficient process that produces high-quality, environmentally sensitive housing at a low price,’ he explained. BoKlok has nothing to do with ‘flat-packs’, it is about completed quality homes manufactured offsite.” Buying materials in large quantities enables the IKEA/ Skanska marriage to benefit from economies of scale and it offers, in true Ikea style, a small selection of clean line designs which reduce upfront costs. Its one to four bedroom apartments and terraced houses are finished in white paint and plain tiles. Its Swedish incarnations all benefit from solar panels.
A plan by Swedish home décor giant IKEA and construction wizard Skanska to bring their low cost sustainable offsite housing model to the UK has been welcomed by insulation specialist Actis. The company has built 11,000 homes so far in Sweden, Norway and Finland using sustainable offsite manufacturing methods, giving more people the opportunity to own a quality, sustainable home, at a lower price than the current market value. Speaking at Housing 2019 in Manchester. BoKlok UK vice-president Henrik Johnnson stressed key factors to the success and sustainability of the future housing market are more housing choice, improved quality and
BBA Certification for FastClad
“In Sweden, our calculations show that a BoKlok multifamily house generates half the carbon emissions compared to the average of a newly produced multifamily house,” added Henrik. “We will use the same means of production for the UK market and hence it is a reasonable to think that the result would be the same in the UK. Transportation of the modules is a very small part of the total emissions. “In a world with finite resources we do as much as possible to minimise our impact on the environment, which is why we build in wood – the most climate neutral and natural building material. Building in a factory lowers our environmental impact, especially as we use timber frames. We recycle most of our leftover materials – less than 1% gets thrown away. And our carbon footprint is less than half that of normal building projects. All of this makes us more sustainable and more cost effective.
modern lightweight methods of construction with the appearance of traditional brickwork. Manufactured in a purpose built factory and delivered as pre-bonded masonry panels, complete with fixings and pointing mortar, this non-structural, weatherproof cladding system can be quickly and easily secured to timber, steel-framed, masonry or concrete structures without the need for scaffolding or specialist tradesmen, saving contractors both time and money. Suitable for both onsite and offsite projects, FastClad is frequently used on entire facades, soffits, balconies, infill and recess panels, as well as for re-cladding existing buildings.
Advanced Construction Systems Ltd has received updated certification from the British Board of Agrément (BBA), reflecting recent amendments to the Building Regulations, for its innovative FastClad lightweight brick slip system. A well-established and proven prefabricated brick slip cladding system, Fastclad combines all the cost and efficiency advantages of
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As a versatile system that can use virtually any facing brick, FastClad has also featured on several awardwinning architectural projects, where a flexible brick slip solution has been required to provide an exciting individualistic finish or a seamless match with existing brick blends, sizes and bond patterns. With independent approval from the BBA, one of the UK’s leading certification bodies, architects, designers, contractors, offsite manufacturers and building
WWW.OFFSITEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | JULY/AUGUST 2019
“Our housing areas are relatively small with leafy areas where people can meet in a natural way. They are always close to public transport, shops and other public amenities. We help our customers live more sustainably, whether that means saving energy and water or how they can find cleaning products without any harmful chemicals. Perhaps most important of all, we don’t build any unnecessary square metres. We create smart space, not show-off space. Every square metre we don’t build reduces our environmental impact. Our goal is a low price with meaning. That’s something entirely different from building cheaply. “We build most of our houses inside, which reduces the risk of weather damage. We build with care to show respect for the people who will move in and we build smart using natural and environmentally friendly materials. Because we’ve perfected our process we are one of the fastest companies in the industry. No one else can build and deliver a quality home, ready to move into as fast as us. As soon as we’ve found the right piece of land we don’t waste any time. This means less disruption for local residents and fewer risks for the builders.” Actis Regional Sales Director Jemma Harris is particularly excited about the latest forward thinking offsite specialist. “We welcome initiatives aimed at addressing the housing crisis and the construction industry skills shortage while improving the environment. Here is another wonderful example of construction organisations being proactive, thinking outside the box and looking at new and innovative ways of creating the homes we need.” Source: www.insulation-actis.com www.boklok.co.uk
control have additional reassurance that FastClad has undergone comprehensive assessment including onsite evaluations and rigorous tests relating to durability and fire. It is manufactured to a Quality Plan, which is agreed with and regularly audited by the BBA. “BBA certification provides well-respected assurance of suitability, quality and reliability, which strengthens our reputation as a trusted supplier of a brick slip system that meets the requirements of architects, specifiers, contractors and offsite manufacturers,” said Pete Stephenson, General Manager of Advanced Construction Systems Ltd. FastClad lightweight brick slip panels are easy to install and require little maintenance. They are certified for use, where regulations allow, at up to 42m in height. Left to right: Pete Stephenson, General Manager Advanced Construction Systems Ltd, Wendy Ajuwon, Marketing Manager at the British Board of Agrément and Shaun Crosskey, Business Development Manager at Advanced Construction Systems Ltd. Source: www.fastclad.co.uk