Fewer defects, lower whole-life costs and increased customer satisfaction are just some of the benefits of modern methods of construction (MMC).
Those are the key findings in a new report published today (11th June 2024) on the outcomes of an innovative trial to demonstrate how MMC can help tackle the affordable housing shortage in the UK.
Rollalong’s partner Magna Housing commissioned asset management specialists CAMS to produce the proof of concept report.
Magna adopted an award-winning ‘MMC-first’ business case in 2020, setting out to prove that offsite construction could deliver ‘an ordinary home’.
Last year Magna completed its proof-of-concept phase of creating the first 50 factory-built homes in partnership with Rollalong.
The new report highlights evidence of the benefits of Magna’s approach in overcoming challenges to MMC, which include:
- Fewer defects compared to traditionally built homes, saving money and time.
- Overcoming planning barriers, creating homes that complement local environments.
- Increasing customers’ satisfaction with new homes.
- The ability to deliver modular homes from the factory to sites via narrow, rural roads.
- Securing industry standard National House Building Council’s (NHBC) Accepts warranty.
- Lower costs, including maintenance, over the whole life of homes.
- Showing that customers are able to secure a mortgage on MMC homes when sold.
Rollalong’s Sales Director Paul Jones said: “What we’ve created in this proof-of-concept phase is a regional exemplar, a scalable model that can be replicated up and down the country to help solve the housing crisis.
“This report puts an open and honest assessment out to the market following the delivery of the first five sites with Magna Housing, specifically looking just at the superstructure only. These modular housing developments have gone extremely well but like all concepts and new partnerships, we had overcome some challenges along the way, and we want to articulate those challenges in this report.
“Since the last project, which was delivered in 2023, we have fed all lessons learned into our latest house design and manufacturing processes and we are proud to now have a solution which can deliver homes more quickly, more cheaply and to a higher standard than traditional housing projects.
“We’ve had fantastic feedback from customers and Magna Housing are delighted with the quality of the homes.”
“Now well out of the proof-of-concept stage, we are pleased to be continuing to manufacture house types in our Dorset factory,” Paul added. “Let’s break the paradigm of modular house building being difficult and requiring huge quantities – we are currently running house types in batch quantities as small as two for our customers. Get in touch at with Abi at enquiries@rollalong.co.uk for a price and solution that suits you.”
Watch our video explainer below, and scroll down to download the full Proof of Concept Report.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
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.
Last week we transported 30 modules from our factory in Dorset to Corsley in Wiltshire where we’re working on a development of eight new homes for Wiltshire Council.
The modules were manufactured at our facility near Bournemouth and they will make up six houses and two accessible bungalows on Maud Davies Close in Corsley Heath, a small village between Warminster and Frome in Wiltshire.
Transportation and installation of the modules took just five days, reducing congestion and disruption for local residents in the village.
Five of the homes will be offered for social rent and the other three will be available for shared ownership, increasing the number of affordable homes for people in the area. 
The homes are built to 100% NDSS (Nationally Described Space Standard), will be net zero in operation, and will have all-electric boilers with air source heat pumps.
To encourage environmental diversity and sustainability, bat and bird boxes will be installed on every house, and EV chargers will encourage the use of electric vehicles.
The façades of the houses will be a blend of render and brick-slips in a distinctive banding pattern to reference the Victorian Red Cottages close to the site.
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.”
We’ve installed the first modular home provided by Wiltshire Council on a site in Durrington.
“We are adapting to the demand for more sustainable and efficient methods of construction and adopting this growing technology to deliver around 150 new homes across the country.
“With their brick slips, render and roof tiles, it’s hard to tell our MMC homes from traditional builds.
“The quality of the building is really impressive – inspectors from the National House Building Council have monitored every step of the process. I’m looking forward to rolling out this technology to more sites across the county and to see our house-building continue to make progress in such an innovative way.”
These modular homes are zero carbon in use thanks to air source heat pumps, smart controls, and solar panels. The modules can be configured as bungalows, flats, or houses to suit residents’ needs.
Last year Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council joined forces to address the housing crisis, appointing us via the South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) Offsite Construction of New Homes framework to build nearly 1,000 new homes over the next three years.
“We were delighted to be awarded the contract by Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council to design and build these modular homes that will provide a range of high-quality, affordable housing for everyone,” said our Managing Director Steve Chivers.
“We are building the homes of the future designed for living today. We want to demystify modular housing and champion the benefits that this style of housing can provide in the face of a nationwide housing crisis.
“We are now creating jobs and apprenticeships in the South West, using local supply chain partners, and creating systemic change in our transition towards a circular economy in the region.”
The Durrington development is just the latest stage in a roll-out of new modular homes by Rollalong and our partners across the South West.
We have already manufactured 120 homes and completed the first five sites in Sherborne, Halstock and Dorchester in Dorset for Magna Housing.
The modular construction sector may be going through turbulent times, but our business is going from strength to strength, writes Rollalong MD Steve Chivers.
We are the largest permanent offsite construction company in the south of England and we’ve built our reputation in the defence, education and healthcare sectors.
We’re now also winning significant residential contracts to provide modular homes for local authorities and housing associations.
In fact, we’re bucking the trend of some recent high-profile failures in the modular offsite construction sector.
Thanks to our many years of experience, our diverse product range and our long-standing partnerships, Rollalong is not facing the same challenges that others are experiencing in the industry.
We have a strong pipeline of work, such as the homes recently ordered by partners Magna Housing and Wilshire Council. With these houses now being produced in the factory, our business is continuing as normal.
Founded in 1932, Rollalong has been in business for over 90 years and specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of permanent offsite buildings. We currently have 1,000 homes on our order books and five proof-of-concept sites complete.
Unlike other offsite manufacturers, Rollalong does not operate solely in the residential sector – we also have a strong pipeline of work in defence, education and healthcare.
Thanks to our location and long history we also benefit from a robust supply chain, and through our current business model we procure factory materials locally wherever possible.
The residential sector is increasingly important to us, and we have demonstrated the value of collaboration through our partnership with Magna Housing, Wiltshire Council and the South West Procurement Alliance.
Working together, we can deliver the volumes that we require using a market-tested, BOPAS and NHBC Accepts accredited portfolio of standard house types in any step and stagger configuration and rollout through a regional delivery model.
These are exciting times as we roll out the delivery of almost 1,000 new net zero carbon ready and net zero carbon living modular homes across Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset, using offsite manufactured, precision-engineered techniques to modernise and speed up the whole process.
An innovative partnership has agreed to create more than 100 modern, energy-efficient new homes for people in the South West.
Housing association Magna, Wiltshire Council and Dorset-based manufacturer Rollalong joined forces last year to tackle the housing crisis using modular building methods. They have pledged to build nearly 1,000 new affordable homes by 2026.
Magna and Wiltshire have now taken another step towards that goal by placing orders for Rollalong to manufacture 109 new, modular homes for five sites across two counties.
The partners have used their joint purchasing power to get better value under a money-saving framework created by the South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA). 
Magna will make 26 of the homes available for affordable rent or shared ownership in Dorset. They will include 14 at Webber’s Piece in Maiden Newton and 12 at the site of the former Royal Manor Arts College on Portland, adding to the 29 Rollalong has already manufactured for the 41-home development.
In Wiltshire, the council will create a further 83 new affordable homes across three sites within the county.
Rollalong uses precision engineering techniques to manufacture high-quality modern homes as modules in its factory near Wimborne Minster. These are then transported, fully fitted with kitchens, bathrooms and electrics, to sites where they will become attractive, energy efficient homes.
Modular manufacturing has potential to deliver much-needed new homes faster and more sustainably than traditional brick housebuilding. Overall, the process generates less waste and has a lower carbon footprint. It also creates less disruption to local people, with fewer deliveries to site over a shorter time.
The partners’ latest range of modular house types are built to be ‘net zero in use’, in line with the Government’s proposed Future Homes Standard, which will require new homes built from 2025 to produce 75-80% less carbon. The all-electric homes will be heated by air-source heat pumps, with a thermally efficient fabric retaining warmth and helping residents keep their energy bills lower.
The homes can be tailored to the local, often rural setting, with a range of house types and finishes influenced by customer feedback. The partners also have the only modular approach in the UK accredited by the National Housing-Building Council (NHBC) able to ‘step and stagger’ terraces of houses so that they have more visual variety.
Magna and Rollalong have already completed 32 new modular homes across sites in Sherborne, Chickerell and Dorchester.
Tony and his husband Kevin recently moved in to their new, rented, modular home at Eddison Avenue in Dorchester. Tony said:
“We’re so happy in our home. We’re warmer than we have been in years. We absolutely love it and cannot believe how lucky we are.”
Paul Read, Magna’s Director of Sustainability and Investment, said:
“These are among the most important new homes Magna has delivered, with our ambition to build the right homes of the right quality in the right places. By collaborating with others and modernising how we build, we are creating homes for local people that will help address the cost of living, energy challenges and contribute towards the UK’s net zero targets.
“Thanks to Government retrofit funding, we also have the opportunity to decarbonise our existing homes, including those neighbouring the new, modular houses at Webbers Piece. These older homes will benefit from external wall insulation, new windows and doors, and air-source heat pumps. The timing means we can look at creating a real sense of place in this rural community.”
Steve Chivers, Managing Director of Rollalong, said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded this latest contract by Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council to design and build a further 109 modular homes under the partnership.
“The aim of our innovative partnership is to deliver almost 1,000 high-quality, affordable, Net Zero-ready future homes in the South West using a local workforce and local suppliers.
“Manufacturing homes offsite in modules is the future for our industry, and our unique partnership provides the volumes we need to make these modern methods of construction work.
“These are the homes of the future designed for living today, and we’re pleased to have the opportunity to promote the benefits of modular housing as a response to a nationwide housing crisis.”
Cllr Phil Alford, Cabinet Member for Housing at Wiltshire Council, said:
“We’re delighted to continue our positive and hugely productive partnership with Magna and Rollalong.
“The houses are built in the most innovative and efficient way, resulting in quality affordable homes for Wiltshire residents, which is a key mission of our business plan.
“Our aim as a council to build 1,000 affordable over a ten-year period is really gathering momentum and we’re committed to successfully achieving that for our communities.”
Mary Bennell, Director of SWPA, said:
“We have worked closely with Magna and Wiltshire Council to provide the innovative procurement solutions required to meet their housing aspirations.
“We were especially proud to support the project by developing a detailed easy to use methodology for assessing the social value outputs at an individual project level for both clients.”
It’s a beautiful day on Eddison Avenue in Dorchester where we’ve just handed over four new modular homes to our client Magna Housing Ltd.
These two and three-bedroom homes are a short walk away from Dorchester town centre. Two of the houses will be offered for sale as affordable housing on shared ownership terms while the other two are available for social rent – and tenants have already started to move in!
The three-bed mid-terrace houses feature:
- Kitchen / diner including a built-in oven, hob and extractor
- Bathroom with shower over bath
- Private rear garden with shed
- Two allocated parking spaces
- Flooring throughout
- NHBC warranty for a modular home
- Lounge / diner
- Kitchen including a free-standing cooker, hob and extractor
- Bathroom with shower over bath
- Private rear garden with shed
- Two allocated parking spaces
- Flooring throughout
- NHBC warranty for a modular home
Our development of eight modular homes at Bull Bridge Mead in Halstock, Dorset is nearing completion.
Our fourth residential site for social housing provider Magna Housing has been challenging in terms of logistics as we have had to negotiate low bridges, narrow country lanes and power lines to the whole village!
The development comprises a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes all with traditional slate pitched roofs. Two are clad with stone slips to be in keeping with the surrounding area. All the properties Part L compliant, fully electric and energy efficient with solar PV.
Located on the edge of the village of Halstock, the design of our development mirrors the existing, linear semi-detached properties in Bull Bridge Mead. The rear gardens will back onto paddocks with open countryside beyond.
Bull Bridge Mead is a gateway site into Halstock and our first stone-clad homes will provide a stunning welcome for people coming into this beautiful Dorset village.
The development is part of a phase one programme of 46 modular homes and will include provision for bats, birds and bees. Hedgehog holes will be installed in any solid fencing, a hedge which is home to dormice will be relocated, and new nesting boxes will be provided for them.
In addition, the local environment will benefit from new native hedges, trees and planting from the RHS Plants for Pollinators list.
We were pleased to welcome four visitors from Wiltshire Council to our factory on Tuesday.
Mike Dawson (Head of Estates and Development), Mike Kalvis (Senior Contracts Surveyor from the Asset Management Team) and Councillors Tony Jackson (a member of the Climate Emergency Task Group) and Sarah Gibson had a tour of the factory and visited our show home.
As a member of the Environment Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Jackson is interested in lower carbon activity, and topics for discussion were grey water recycling, rainwater harvesting and ground source heat exchange. Rollalong is part of a partnership with Wiltshire Council, Magna Housing and the South West Procurement Alliance which will build nearly 1,000 new homes in the South West over the next three years.