A housebuilder has handed over to a Devon council six purpose-built modular homes intended to provide temporary accommodation for single homeless people and couples.
Assembled on site by The Hill Group, the so-called DuoHaus and SoloHaus homes were bought by Torridge District Council to help address homelessness in the county. They will be used to provide follow-on temporary housing.
Last year, as the BBC reported, the charity Shelter disclosed findings from a Freedom of Information request spanning Devon and Cornwall. This highlighted that the Torridge district has the highest rate of homelessness in the region, with one in every 279 people affected.
Andy Hill OBE, group chief executive at The Hill Group, said. “We are pleased to hand over three SoloHaus homes for single people, and for the first time, three DuoHaus for couples who are affected by a lack of housing supply, to Torridge District Council, bolstering its efforts to tackle homelessness.
“This is the first time we have delivered modular homes in Devon, and we are confident they will make a tangible difference to residents’ lives by providing secure, modern, and comfortable accommodation to enable them to get back on their feet and regain the dignity they deserve.”
The modular homes were launched through Hill’s philanthropic initiative, Foundation 200, a £15m pledge to design, manufacture, and donate 200 modular, single-person homes (SoloHaus) to homeless charities and local authorities by 2025.
DuoHaus, meanwhile, is a larger model of the SoloHaus that was designed with couples in mind. It features additional bedroom space and a double bed.
Hill says the modular homes were created in collaboration with leading homelessness charities; both models are manufactured off site and arrive fully furnished, ready for residents to move into straight away.
The homes are said to be easy to install and secure, with a high-quality finish throughout and relocatable. Built to last for at least 60 years, the homes are highly energy-efficient to keep costs low, and are designed to Future Homes Standards, exceeding building regulations for energy efficiency and sound insulation.
The three SoloHaus and three DuoHaus homes have been installed to offer emergency housing support to households who have lost their homes due to a severe shortage of private rental properties in Devon, as well as the ongoing pressures from the cost-of-living crisis. The council is now supporting a large number of households through this difficult time using a range of innovative facilities, like modular homes.
Hamish Cameron, project manager at Torridge District Council, said: “We are delighted to have acquired these six homes, which are already helping alleviate the housing challenges within the district, and we are primarily using them to home people that are experiencing homelessness and this remains an important aspect of our strategy to support these needs in the local community.
“Notably, their high-quality design and energy efficiency will ensure they offer a comfortable and affordable place to live.”
SoloHaus and DuoHaus homes are manufactured by Volumetric Modular from its factory in the West Midlands. Fabrication takes just 15 days, and on-site installation can be even quicker, Hill says, making the homes an “ideal solution” for addressing accommodation shortages swiftly.
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