L&Q has signed a deal which will see the first stage of its ambitious new construction strategy delivered.
Stewart Milne Timber Systems, the UK’s leading offsite construction firm, will deliver timber-frame for more than 1,500 of L&Q’s new homes. The company, which has three factories in the UK, will also support the leading housing association with bids for standalone contracts on the open market.
This partnership forms a key part of L&Q’s innovative Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) strategy, which will see all of its new build homes delivered with some form of MMC by 2025, and the first entirely off-site manufactured home by 2028.
This will support L&Q’s commitment to deliver 100,000 new homes with like-minded partners over the next ten years. L&Q’s £5 million per year Academy will accompany this with investment in upskilling apprentices and staff in MMC techniques.
The timber frames will initially be used in the construction of L&Q’s new Counties developments at Birnam Mews, Tiddington, and Saxon Reach, Milton Keynes. The first deliveries are expected in Spring 2019.
Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Group Director of Development and Sales at L&Q, said “We are excited to be collaborating with Stewart Milne Timber Systems on our modern methods of construction programme. Off-site manufacturing offers a range of exciting opportunities, speeding up the delivery and build quality of our developments whilst reducing the costs of projects.”
Alex Goodfellow, Group Managing Director of Stewart Milne Timber Systems, said “This is an ambitious project which lays down a significant marker for how new homes can be built at pace and to exacting design standards. This strategic alliance and collaboration will allow L&Q to deliver on a number of fronts and we believe they’ve set the standard for how we should approach the housing shortfall across the UK.”