The sun shone in Redhill, Surrey at the official opening of Mitchell Place, a development of eight low-carbon one-bedroom flats for homeless single parents and young people with support needs.
Transform Housing & Support welcomed 30 guests to the event in Redhill where the guest of honour was Transform’s former Chief Executive Paul Mitchell, who was in charge for nearly half of the housing association’s 50-year history.
The event marked a significant milestone for Transform, showcasing its commitment to innovative housing solutions for homeless single parents and young people in need of support.
The building was manufactured in modular form at Rollalong’s factory in Dorset and transported to Surrey to be installed on site.
The opening ceremony brought together representatives from Rollalong, project managers Playle and Partners and one of the development’s key funders, Surrey County Council.
Guests were given an exclusive tour of two of the completed flats which are designed to meet the specific needs of their residents. A young mother, proudly holding her five-month-old son, shared her gratitude with visitors as she guided them through her new home which she moved into just a few weeks ago. “This place has truly changed my life,” she said.
Our Project Director Iain Steele spoke at the event and highlighted the innovative nature of the project’s construction. “Mitchell Place is a modular build, meaning the units were constructed offsite and then brought in by crane and assembled,” he explained.
“This sustainable, cutting-edge method is extremely energy efficient, providing long-term benefits – including reduced costs – for clients.”
Transform Chief Executive Lawrence Santcross thanked the contractors and said how thrilled the organisation was to have been able to develop Mitchell Place. “We are dedicated to meeting the needs of the communities we serve by providing affordable social housing and tailored support,” he said.
“These eight meticulously designed flats, along with the support we’re offering, will empower clients both today, and in the future, to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.”
The event also showcased women in construction, and architect Hayley Poynter Fenning emphasised the significance of Mitchell Place’s all-women project team. “Gender equality in construction remains a challenge, with only 1% of skilled tradespeople and 16% of senior positions being held by women,” she noted. “This project demonstrates the power of female leadership in driving positive change.”
Paul Mitchell said: “Mitchell Place is the realisation of a dream that began in 1998 with the creation of Chaucer Court, the sister building to this one, so I am delighted that Transform, Rollalong and Playle and Partners have been able to bring this vision to life using such sustainable, modern construction methods.
“I know Mitchell Place will be hugely appreciated by all who live here and call it home.”
Pictured are (left to right) Sarah Young, Pelin Erginsoy and Hayley Poynter Fenning from Playle & Partners, Iain Steele from Rollalong and Suzanne Edwards from Transform Housing.
As part of our ongoing relationship with Yeovil College, we recently welcomed a group of students to our factory in Woolsbridge.
Seven carpentry students and two lecturers joined us to learn more about modern methods of construction (MMC) and how the construction industry is evolving. They also had a tour of the site to see the manufacturing process up close.
One of the students lives in one of our Bull Bridge Mead homes which was a nice surprise! You can read more about our work on that development here.
Yeovil College is looking to make MMC an integral part of the syllabus on its T-Level courses, with support from Rollalong.
Next, we plan to show the students one of our Magna Housing construction sites near Portland so they can see the next phase of our MMC construction process.
Towards the end of last year we handed over a suite of new modular facilities at Beaucroft Foundation School in Wimborne on schedule.
At the start of the summer break we demolished an old double classroom at the school for Dorset Council in order to replace it with a larger double classroom.
In fact, we’ve provided two new buildings on a full turnkey basis: a six-bay double classroom with quiet rooms, lobby and WCs, and changing rooms with WCs and showers for the school swimming pool.
“This was a fantastic effort from everyone involved,” said our Managing Director Steve Chivers, while Projects Director Iain Steele added:
“Brilliant work – well done to all involved as it’s a team effort that make these jobs go so well. That’s three buildings handed over in one week as planned.”
Have a look at this video by Steve Cox of SC Aerial Images to see our installation team in action at Beaucroft School.
If your school needs new facilities or extra space, get in touch with us and ask about our flexible modular buildings.
One of the many benefits of modular offsite construction is the time saved when working on site.
At our flagship land-led development site at West Ashling in the South Downs, we’ve installed all 17 homes inside two weeks, reducing disruption and noise nuisance for local residents.
Nine of these modular low-carbon homes, manufactured in our factory in Dorset, will be for affordable rent or shared ownership.
The site near Chichester in West Sussex is allocated for housing development in the South Downs Local Plan. 
West Ashling will be our first development undertaken for our parent company, the Newship Group, which owns a number of packaging, construction, manufacturing and premium hire businesses.
Jamie Turpin, Construction and Development Director at Newship Group, said: “West Ashling is a great rural residential scheme and the perfect development opportunity we’ve been seeking to combine our current ideal blend of scale and location.
“There has long been a shortage of modest new homes in the favoured western sector of Chichester and the addition of 17 new homes will help support the local housing needs.”
Next month we will start transporting modules onto the Isle of Portland, where we’re delivering 41 new modular homes on the first phase of the redevelopment of the former Royal Manor Arts College which educated 11 to 16-year-olds until its closure in 2016.
This will be the sixth residential development we have delivered in partnership with Magna Housing, and the largest so far.
The site is in a registered area of deprivation so we are going to great lengths with Magna to deliver our latest Net Zero Carbon Ready all-electric homes to reduce living costs for Magna’s customers.
We are working with Magna to deliver 27 homes for rent, featuring one, two, three and four bedrooms, and 14 two and three-bedroom homes available to buy through shared ownership on this prominent site named Royal Manor Place.
The project has benefited from a £4.6m grant from Homes England, which specified the use of modern methods of construction, and £410,000 from Dorset Council.
The development will remain true to the local architectural styles by incorporating elements of local Portland stone in its design.
By using modular construction techniques we can enhance the overall quality and precision of our homes. Modules are built offsite in controlled environments, minimising waste and allowing for efficient use of materials, and offsite manufacture reduces the number of vehicle movements for local communities traditionally associated with new homes development.
Our focus on energy efficiency extends to every aspect of the design and construction of these homes, from insulation materials to the heating systems. These homes are heated with an air source heat pump.
Our Managing Director Steve Chivers said: “We’re very excited to be almost ready to deliver the first modules to the Portland site – a logistical challenge which is no mean feat in itself!
“These modern and energy-efficient homes will be a beautiful addition to the Portland landscape and a boon to the island, where affordable housing is at a premium.
“We’re looking forward to getting on site and we would like to reassure local residents that we will do everything we can to minimise disruption while we are delivering the modules.”
The Rollalong team has been busy installing modules at Gillingham Upper School as part of our latest project for client Dorset Council.
Using modern methods of construction (MMC) we have delivered:
- Two classrooms
- Two breakout rooms
- Sensory room
- Meeting room
- Three accessible WCs
- Additional storage
This project is expected to be completed by December 2023.
We are specialists when it comes to modular buildings for the education sector, so please get in touch if you need additional space for your school.
*Updated 20th October 2023*
Grovelands Park in Winnersh won the award for Best Residential Development at the Royal Berkshire Property Awards on 18th October.
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We’re hearing some fantastic news from Wokingham, where a modular development we delivered for the local council has been shortlisted for two awards!
The development of 23 modular two-bedroom homes for homeless families at Grovelands Park in Winnersh near Wokingham has been shortlisted as Best Residential Development and Best Low Carbon Project in this year’s Royal Berkshire Property Awards.
The homes are arranged in two storeys with their own entrances, allowing families to live safely and comfortably while awaiting somewhere permanent to live.
Each has its own toilet and bathroom with an open-plan lounge, dining room, kitchen and internet access, and one will be specially adapted for households where someone has a disability.
They replaced 12 mobile homes at Grovelands, which had reached the end of their useful life and would not have been economical to refurbish.
“We were delighted to be asked to deliver this project for Wokingham Borough Council’s housing team, and we’re very pleased with the results,” said Rollalong Projects Manager Laurie Garside.
“Homelessness is a growing problem for many local authorities, and our offsite modular manufacturing methods mean we can deliver high-quality housing quickly and cost-effectively.
“This new accommodation is of a very high standard and has provided the borough of Wokingham with much needed additional temporary housing.”
Councillor Stephen Conway, Leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said: “We’re so pleased that our hard-working team and partners in this ambitious project have been given the recognition they deserve – and we’re crossing our fingers for good news next week.”
The winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony at Reading Town Hall tomorrow evening (Wednesday 18th October).
We recently completed a full turnkey installation of a storage and training facility for the Army Sailing Association (ASA) in Gosport.
The ASA had to establish a new Offshore Sailing Centre after relocating to a different area of Fort Blockhouse in Gosport.
While the ASA undertook a refurbishment of a former derelict and historic police barracks building, the team contracted Rollalong to build an additional training room for sea survival, communications, first aid, marine engineering and boat equipment stores.
We manufactured and installed six modules as part of this development. The structural frame of the building was manufactured from our Xpand system with a steel floor frame and timber wall studs designed for heavy wear.
The ASA had previously worked with Rollalong on another project, so we were the perfect choice for this development.
Miles Wade CBE, Project Officer at ASA, said: “Rollalong overcame the technical challenges of providing a modular construction in a historic environment, requiring sensitive foundations, over-craning and construction, with great skill and flexibility.
“The result is a world-class offshore sail training centre which will enable soldiers, veterans and their families to embark on sailing exhibitions and challenges. This will inspire and develop young men and women of the armed forces as individuals and team members.”
We have a proven track record of outstanding, high-quality permanent buildings for the armed forces, so please get in touch to find out how our modular buildings can work for you.
Our photo shows our Contracts Manager Sonny Rodrigues with Miles Wade CBE, Project Officer for the Army Sailing Association Development Project, and Brad Delaney, Manager of the Army Offshore Sailing Centre.
August and September is always a busy period for our education team as schools take the opportunity to improve their estate while pupils are on holiday.
At the start of the summer break we demolished an old double classroom at Beaucroft Foundation School in Wimborne for Dorset Council in order to replace it with a considerably larger double classroom.
In fact, we’re providing two new buildings on a full turnkey basis: a six-bay double classroom with quiet rooms, lobby and WCs, and changing rooms with WCs and showers for the school swimming pool.
The modules have now been installed on site and the whole project will be complete by October half-term.
Delivering these modules to space-restricted sites is sometimes a challenge, but it’s one that we relish! Have a look at the video below by Steve Cox of SC Aerial Images to see our installation team in action.
If your school needs new facilities or extra space, get in touch with us and ask about our flexible modular construction solutions.
Last week we delivered a new building to a school in Dorset that had an urgent need for additional classroom space.
To solve a problem for Mountjoy School in Beaminster we provided a previously used building that we had in stock: a six-bay double classroom with WCs, newly refurbished kitchens, M&E package, and suspended ceilings and flooring.
Access to the school site was very challenging but thanks to a team effort, and working closely with Dorset Council and local residents, we completed the installation in one day and ahead of schedule.
The council’s traffic management team set up parking restrictions at short notice and local residents were asked not to park on nearby Fleet Street to allow our vehicles to access the site.
John Butcher, Delivery Manager at Dorset Council, commented: “I think we proved a point that a bit of local knowledge, plenty of public liaison, rolling your sleeves up and being prepared to do some leg work along with working together will always result in a successful outcome!”
If you need additional space for your school, please get in touch with us to find out how our modular buildings can provide the ideal solution.