Should the UK look to Sweden to solve its housing crisis?

Swedish-modular-construction-2

Sweden uses offsite manufacture to build at least 45% of its new homes. Could the UK emulate this approach, making use of modern techniques?

Picture this. It is sub-zero outside, but you are sitting comfortably in your new-build home with very little if any heating required. There are no draughts under the perfectly fitted doors or from around the snuggly inserted windows. You are blown away by the quality and amazed in the knowledge that you could buy a house just like this and “have it knocked up in a day or two”. 

This is not a pipe-dream description of Britain in 20 years’ time – although it could be. It is construction analyst Tony Williams’ factual account of modular homes today in Sweden, where he spends half his year. Building Value’s Williams says the precisely manufactured homes in Sweden are not only of very high quality but also produced at top speed and with minimal waste – not a description you are likely to hear in relation to British new-build housing. 

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