Timber frame building could boost housing supply

Croydon Council has been leading the way in devising new ways of addressing housing shortages. For one they have pioneered a small sites project that encourages developers to take on plots even if there are obstacles to address. Coffey Architects was proud to be involved in this. We contributed wonderful designs that add to the diverse residential architecture London is home to. Investing in timberThe latest thing that Croydon Council is looking to do is invest in timber frame building. The Council's development company has a target of creating 1,000 new homes in the Borough by 2019. Using timber frames could help with achieving this goal. For one it would reduce the amount of time it takes to build the properties. In addition, it would be ideal for building on small, challenging sites.Producing their own timber frames could offer many benefits. Importantly, it would reduce the cost for the homes they are creating. This is because they would no longer need to pay for other suppliers to produce them. In addition it could offer a new revenue stream if they decide to sell frames to other users.Modular building is popularCroydon Council is thought to be at the exploratory stage with their idea to open a timber frame factory. Surprisingly they are not the only local authority to consider modular building as the solution to housing shortages. Tower Hamlets Council revealed a number of councils are considering setting up a company to produce the homes.An increase in modular building could have a big impact on the residential architecture London is home to. For example it could inspire more creative designs for smaller sites. This could result in the creation of homes that enrich the lives of residents.Coffey Architects understands the potential benefits modular building could offer. If you would like to discuss them with us please get in touch.