Image: The NSW Government is trialling modular homes in an effort to address the housing crisis. Image: NSW Government
The NSW Government is trialling pre-built modular homes in an effort to boost social housing, as evidence grows that state construction targets will not be met.
$10 million has been invested to trial the use of modular housing, with sites in Wollongong and Lake Macquarie already selected as suitable locations.
Completion of these homes, estimated to be 20 per cent faster than traditional methods, is expected by early 2025.
Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said, “Housing affordability and availability is the single biggest pressure facing the people of New South Wales.”
“We are pulling every lever we can to tackle the housing crisis, and today is an important milestone in our work to utilise nontraditional methods of delivering more homes, sooner rather than later.”
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said the sites would a crucial first step towards revolutionising public housing delivery.
“Amid a severe housing crisis, we need to look at every option we must get a roof over people’s heads sooner. Leveraging modern construction methods will help us provide sustainable, quality housing faster for the people that need it most,” she said.
“We know people don’t have time to wait and while we get on with the job of building 8,400 new public homes announced in the recent budget, we will continue to leverage every opportunity we have.”
Member for Wollongong Paul Scully also welcomed the decision, saying “Modular and modern methods of construction are used to produce award-winning architecturally designed homes in a timely and efficient manner, so it makes sense to trial this approach to construction as part of the Minns Government’s commitment to build more social housing.”
The government is currently working through regulatory barriers, as modular housing has not been used at scale in NSW before. This will include collaborating with the NSW Building Commission to set uniform standards for manufactured homes constructed offsite.
