Potential of prefabricated pods to extend houses: Initial feasibility study for social housing

Current UK Government policies aim to provide affordable housing, expand housing provision in key geographical areas and achieve the Egan principles. This has raised the profile and potential utility of modular and prefabricated buildings and components. Social housing also faces its own particular problems; including government polices that reduce the rental income from certain properties, an ageing stock profile, low demand for properties in certain areas, and various National standards for housing including Decent Homes and Affordable Warmth. All these issues can have the effect of lowering income and increasing expenditure. The need for innovation to sustain financial viability is therefore paramount. With these factors in mind, an initial feasibility study was undertaken to establish whether prefabricated 'extension pods' could be utilised to increase the size of existing dwellings for Touchstone Housing Association based in the UK- typically Victorian terraced properties, to produce a cost saving over traditionally built extensions, and increase housing demand. This is of course different from erecting a complete dwelling, and raises particular issues. The results of the feasibility study show that their may be scope for the use of the prefabricated pods, but several problems need to be resolved. Particular problems include the transportation and handling of the pods, the interfaces between the pods and the existing dwellings, assurances over the whole life costs of the pods and customer (i.e. tenants of the dwellings) acceptance. We call on the construction industry to consider the potentially large market in social housing and work with the sector to overcome the barriers to the use of prefabricated extension pods.