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.
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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]
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.
At Rollalong we’re committed to supporting the armed forces community wherever we can, which is why we’re pleased to say that we’ve secured the Bronze Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
The MoD scheme encourages businesses and other organisations to support the defence sector and inspire others to do the same.
It offers Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards to organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation which ensures that those who serve, or have served, in the Armed Forces and their families are treated fairly.
“As a business located in the South West, where the UK armed forces have deep and long established roots in the community, we’re committed to supporting the defence sector and both current and former serving personnel,” said Rollalong Managing Director Steve Chivers.
“We are a major supplier of Single Living Accommodation for the MoD and we have signed up for this scheme in order to emphasise our support for the armed forces generally and former personnel in particular.”
As Bronze Award holders Rollalong has made the following commitments:
- we’ve pledged to support the armed forces, including existing or prospective employees who are members of the community
- we’ve signed the Armed Forces Covenant
- we’re armed forces-friendly and open to employing reservists, veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses or partners
We’ve been working with Elkins Construction to deliver 15 new council homes in Plumstead for the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
The Gilbourne Road development is made up of modules manufactured at our factory in Dorset, and our installation team did a great job with the delivery, which was made challenging by the restricted size of the site. All modules were delivered and installed in just eight days!
The development consists of a residential block of 13 flats and two houses which will be available for affordable rent to local people as part of the council’s Greenwich Builds scheme.
The building exteriors were designed to reflect the character of the surrounding area and other nearby apartment blocks. 
The properties are designed to meet net zero carbon emissions standards and the units will employ several energy-saving technologies including solar panels, triple glazing and air-source heat pumps.
By working with us and choosing to use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), Elkins Construction can deliver lower energy consumption and less waste than would have been the case with traditional construction.
The finishing touches are now being added to the homes and the project is expected to complete soon!
We are pleased to announce that Rollalong has been selected as a chosen supplier on a newbuild development framework put together by Communities & Housing Investment Consortium Ltd (CHIC).
The eight-year framework is valued at up to £3.2bn and is made up of three lots:
Lot 1 – Consultancy Services
Lot 2 – Contractors/MMC Manufacturers
Lot 3 – Development and Regeneration
We have been included on Lot 2 Workstream 2 Fully Modular (Supply Only) and Lot 2 Workstream 4 Development Contracting Services (Full Turnkey).
The framework provides a comprehensive solution to deliver all types of development related works and services to help tackle the housing shortage.
Well done to the fantastic team at Rollalong who have secured another framework win for the business!
Find out more here: https://www.chicltd.co.uk/services/frameworks/newbuild/
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.
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.
*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).