We’re excited to say that our Mellish Close development in Barking is almost complete.
Using modern methods of construction (MMC) we have delivered a three-storey apartment block that features six spacious and energy-efficient apartments for our client Be First, the development arm of Barking and Dagenham Council.
The modules are manufactured in our factory in Dorset before being transported to the site.
Our new photos show the exterior of the building as well as inside one of the
finished apartments.
We have previously completed 13 modular homes on Sugden Way in Barking for the same client.
By the time the developments are complete we will have manufactured a total of 64 modules in environmentally friendly, factory-controlled conditions to create low-energy, high-quality, affordable modular homes for the people of Barking and Dagenham.
As world leaders meet in Glasgow to formulate a plan to tackle climate change at COP26, our Managing Director Steve Chivers says offsite construction should be seen as part of the solution to the problem.
3rd November 2021
It’s clear now that we are approaching the point of no return when it comes to reversing the damaging effects of our CO2 emissions on our environment.
The construction industry has to step up and play its part. According to the Technology Strategy Board the construction, operation and maintenance of the built environment accounts for 45% of total UK carbon emissions (27% from domestic buildings and 18% from non-domestic buildings).
To reduce this negative impact we have to find new, greener ways of constructing buildings, and we have to design buildings with a low or zero carbon footprint. This means adapting from the bricks and mortar, ground up approach which the industry has adhered to for centuries and adopting modern methods of construction (MMC) instead.
Rollalong adopts three key steps to deliver clients’ key targets in relation to sustainability. Where clients set building design aims to exceed current zero carbon building standards, the following areas are considered:
Firstly, the fabric-first approach with all our buildings: the highly insulated walls, floors, roof, the high-performance windows and doors, and the air tightness of the building fabric mean that all Rollalong buildings exceed current Building Regulations as standard.
Next is energy efficiency: the use of mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems (MVHR), waste water heat recovery systems (WWHR), LED lighting and efficient water fittings further lower emissions in all our buildings.
We then introduce renewable energy technologies: we start by replacing the fossil fuel gas boiler with highly efficient air source heat pumps to provide space heating and hot water. Heat pumps require just a third of the energy of conventional heating systems, and they use use electricity to compress the energy in the outside air to warm our buildings.
Finally, our buildings can be fitted with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate their own electricity to offset energy use to Net Zero Carbon targets and beyond.
The embodied carbon in modular buildings is lower than that of traditionally constructed schemes. Rollalong is targeting a 75% reduction in the whole-life carbon emissions of its buildings by 2030.
Because buildings created in a factory setting are manufactured to precise requirements, MMC can reduce waste on site by up to 90% compared to traditional construction, and much of this waste can then be recycled rather than sent to landfill. At Rollalong at least 95% of our waste is recycled.
Our building projects also have a smaller impact on the local environment on site. Using MMC, buildings are manufactured in highly controlled conditions in a factory. Offsite methods generate significantly less noise and less dust on site.
Modular construction also reduces vehicle movements to and from the construction site, so the toxic fumes and carbon emissions are reduced too. A building site using offsite modular methods reduces vehicle movements to and from the site by up to 90%, so heavy traffic created by large, dirty trucks can be avoided, and disruption to local residents is kept to a minimum.
What’s more, it’s considerably faster to build a modular building than it is to build from the ground up using bricks and mortar – up to 50% faster. As our buildings take less time to manufacture and install, we use less energy.
We are watching COP26 with interest and we look forward to further announcements of UK Government support for MMC as a construction method which can help the UK to achieve its Net Zero target by 2050.
22nd October 2021
We’ve put together a video using drone footage which captures the journey our modular homes took from our factory near Bournemouth to Sherborne 40 miles away.
The factory-built, energy-efficient, low-carbon, affordable homes were built offsite and are now being installed in Barton Gardens in Sherborne, Dorset.
“We are extremely proud of our regional delivery model which could be rolled out throughout the UK to help solve the housing crisis,” said Steve Chivers, Managing Director of Rollalong.
“Local communities built by local people, using local manufacturers for local people – we are creating systemic change in our transition toward a circular economy in the South West.”
The homes in Barton Gardens were designed in collaboration with our client Magna Housing to ensure a product-led mindset, championing high quality, energy efficiency, design flexibility and consumer choice.
“The support given by Homes England to the MMC sector has certainly had a significant impact on the uptake of this construction method, and this has helped modern methods of construction to gain traction in the development of social and affordable housing across the country,” Steve added.
The Offsite Construction of New Homes (NH2) framework from the South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) was the procurement route for this project. Director Mary Bennell said: “These homes are extremely important to the region and we are glad to be able to see them be delivered. We look forward to watching this project progress.”
5th October 2021
We’re pleased to have welcomed two new apprentices to Rollalong: Hugh Pennington (left) and Harry Pickard.
Last month we invited nine young people to our headquarters to tell them all about Rollalong, our growth to date and our plans for the future.
Now we’ve recruited Hugh and Harry to join our two second-year apprentices David Edmunds and James Atyeo-Pearson. All are currently working with us and studying at Bournemouth & Poole College.
Hugh and Harry are spending their first week taking part in health, safety and environmental inductions and tool training and meeting all the team.
Some of the work they will cover as site carpenter apprentices will be framing, stud work, roof construction, external cladding, internal and external door fitting, window fitting, bathroom and kitchen fitting and stair installation.
We wish both Hugh and Harry a long and successful career at Rollalong!
1st October 2021
We opened our factory doors yesterday (30th September) to welcome officials from Homes England.
Our guests were able to walk around the factory, seeing various homes in different stages of production from initial steel frame assembly to near completion, ready for transport to site.
Paul Kitson (Director of High Growth and New Settlements), Edward Jezeph (Senior Manager, Product Development), Catherine Turner (Head of High Growth Areas and New Settlements) and Sarah Hayes (Senior Partnership and Business Development Manager) took a tour of our manufacturing facility and heard a presentation by our Managing Director Steve Chivers.
Also present were Paul Read (Director of Sustainability and New Supply at Magna Housing), Jamie Turpin (Construction and Development Director at our parent company Newship Group), Iain Steele (Projects Director at Rollalong) and Laura Katon (Business Development Manager at Rollalong).
“It was great to welcome Homes England to witness the evolution of factory-built, energy-efficient, low-carbon, affordable homes planned for delivery throughout Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset,” said Steve Chivers.
“We are extremely proud to showcase our regional delivery model which could be rolled out throughout the UK to help solve the housing crisis. Local communities built by local people, using local manufacturers for local people – we are creating systemic change in our transition toward a circular economy in the South West.”
The homes being manufactured in our factory have been designed in collaboration with our partner Magna Housing to ensure a product-led mindset, championing high quality, energy efficiency, design flexibility and consumer choice.
“Bringing together the registered housing provider, the MMC manufacturer and the land facilitator / grant funder in a collaborative dialogue was very helpful, and this sort of dialogue will be the key to developing successful relationships in the future” Steve added.
“The support given by Homes England to the MMC sector has certainly had a significant impact on the uptake of this construction method, and this has helped modern methods of construction to gain traction in the development of social and affordable housing across the country.”
27th September 2021
Good news to start the week! We’re delighted to have successfully handed over a new science room facility at Harrow Way Community School in Andover a week ahead of schedule.
The new modular chemistry classroom features gas connections fitted throughout the room and was constructed at our factory in Dorset before being installed on site at the school.
Happy to report that the school are pleased and expressed their appreciation to all involved, saying: “The project has gone very smoothly and without any disruption to the school with a friendly, professional and knowledgeable team on site.” The Harrow Way project is just one of a number of modular solutions we’ve been delivering to schools in the South West over the summer. Watch this space for news of more completions!12th August 2021
Using modern methods of construction (MMC) to develop social housing really is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
The South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) is encouraging smaller social landlords across the South and South West to take advantage of MMC to provide high-quality, energy-efficient homes for their residents.
Working in partnership with Dorchester-based Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council, SWPA has published a simple guide called Easy as 1, 2, 3.
The guide highlights the proven route to procurement and delivery via SWPA and explains how the Magna Housing portfolio of homes can be customised and adapted to meet the local context and the requirements of the people who will live in them.
It also sets out how clients can achieve efficient delivery and cost savings by placing a bulk order.
SWPA is an expert in public sector procurement and offers free-to-use frameworks.
Magna Housing has 100 modular homes manufactured for delivery by Rollalong across Dorset.
Wiltshire Council was the first to see the value in working in partnership and using a ready-made portfolio to prove the concept of offsite manufacture – which is why it was the first to join the cluster.
To download the guide visit https://www.swpa.org.uk/media/exvntkgj/swpa-easy_booklet-v5-1.pdf.
7th July 2021
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been accepted onto the new version of the modular buildings framework agreement opened by NHS Shared Business Services.
The framework runs initially from July 2021 until July 2023 and is expected to be worth £1.6bn to the selected suppliers over two years.
It covers the purchase, hire or lease of bespoke modular buildings, modular healthcare units and modular education units and can be accessed by all public sector organisations in the UK including the education and residential sectors as well as healthcare.
Businesses appointed to the framework are required to deliver full turnkey solutions, from planning applications and design to site works and landscaping.
Customers have the ability to directly call off from this framework or run a mini-competition, thereby allowing more flexibility.
Our Managing Director Steve Chivers said: “This is brilliant news for everyone at Rollalong. We’re delighted to have been appointed to the framework and we look forward to using our 90 years of experience to deliver high-quality, flexible modular buildings for the public sector.
“One of the advantages of offsite construction is the speed at which projects can be completed, and this framework will additionally speed up the process for public-sector clients.”
21st June 2021
We’re making good progress on site at our second location in Barking, Mellish Close.
In January we completed a four-storey apartment block comprising 13 affordable apartments on Sugden Way for Be First, the development arm of Barking and Dagenham Borough Council.
Now we’re again using modern methods of construction (MMC) to deliver a three-storey apartment block featuring six spacious and energy-efficient apartments on Mellish Close.
The homes are being manufactured as modules at our factory in Dorset before being transported to the site. They should be installed in July/August and we aim to complete the development in early 2022.
Our images show the preparatory groundwork on site, where the concrete floor slab for Austin House is now in place.
By the time the developments are complete Rollalong will have manufactured a total of 64 modules in environmentally friendly, factory-controlled conditions to create low-energy, high-quality, affordable modular homes for the people of Barking and Dagenham.