CoreHaus has set out in search of a new manufacturing site that will create dozens of skilled jobs in the north-east of England.
The modular housebuilder recently appointed Scotty Bibby as project director to lead the plans to find a suitable factory unit, which, according to the company, is likely to be in County Durham or the surrounding area.
Bibby will recruit a small core team initially before developing commercial partnerships to drive sales in the new product.
Recruitment has started for a production manager and engineer, and the company expects to recruit more than a dozen technicians, apprentices, and admin staff within the first 12 months of operation.
The five-year plan will see CoreHaus producing 1,000 modular homes a year, which will result in more than 100 people working across the business, the company says.
CoreHaus is a joint-venture company between Carlton & Co Group, the parent company behind Newton-Aycliffe based Homes by Carlton; and national social enterprise Fusion21, specialists in public procurement for the built environment.
‘Sector is screaming out’
Commenting on the move, Scott Bibby said: “We already know there is interest and demand for our innovative product.
“The housing sector is screaming out for something that’s both affordable and incorporates high-quality design within a modular frame.
“The concept was successfully piloted with Homes by Carlton, and we are now looking to work together on other new housing developments across the region.
“We’re also talking to housing associations about the product. Several have already told us they love the flexible, high-quality nature of the product.
“It is quick to build, easy to adapt, and has a low-carbon footprint.”
CoreHaus’ homes differ to both standard brick-built homes as well as other modular designs because of the way they are constructed and assembled.
The homes are part modular, with a standard engineered core that can then be configured to meet the customers’ requirements.
Bibby said: “Even before the pandemic and the current economic downturn it was well-known that there’s a huge shortage of high quality, and affordable homes in the North East and other areas of the UK.
“There is a massive void in the market for something like CoreHaus.
“Our light gauge steel-frame system ensures that CoreHaus can be used in both urban and rural locations with elevation treatments tailored to suit each setting, providing almost unlimited design potential.
“The standardised modular core means the house can be configured to provide either two-, three, or four-bedhomes.”
Bibby added: “Our production and designs rely on technical skills and innovation.
“We will be looking to recruit people from different industries to create a diverse workforce with a growth mindset.
“We need engineering skills and construction experience combined to succeed and have a real opportunity to break the current mould.”
Image: brizmaker/Shutterstock
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