Affordable housing is a key priority for the new government which has laid out its strategy under the slogan Get Britain Building Again. It calls for the construction of 1.5 million homes in England by the end of the current parliamentary term – a five-year period.
This equates to an average of 300,000 new homes per year, a target which historically the UK has struggled to meet.
The previous Conservative government setting similar goals of building 300,000 new homes annually and delivering one million homes over the course of a full parliamentary term, annual figures again falling short, with 234,397 net additional homes built in 2022-23.
So what needs to be done differently this time around and how can the construction sector and its supply chain, rise to the challenge?
“The Government has made new homes a key infrastructure priority, with a commitment to reform the planning system. Importantly this includes the reinstatement of mandatory housebuilding targets for local authorities”, Paul Stevens continues.
“It creates future demand while equally significantly, the long-term structural shortage in supply of homes combined with slower private sector demand is driving increased activity in the build-to-rent market.
“The question going forward is, can the building materials supply chain keep up following loss of capacity?”
The importance of partnership in effective delivery
Paul argues that more effective partnership working between the main contractor and sub-contractor, but also between sub-contractors is key, citing a recent project completed in Peterborough in September.
Northminster is a flagship £65million new build affordable housing scheme, delivered by main contractors Cross Key Homes and Willmott Dixon.
Part funded by a £14mllion development grant from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, it includes 315 units of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and 37 townhouses, plus ground floor, leisure, hospitality and commercial spaces.
Set out over between three and 11-storeys homes will be let at discounted rents set below 80% of the normal market rate.
Acorn Aluminium was appointed to the project by Willmott Dixon to deliver the 4450m2 glazing elements of the main project.
This includes 1255m2 of curtain walling in Senior Architectural Systems SF52 system and 3195m2 of windows and doors, which are being manufactured by Acorn Aluminium in Senior Architectural Systems ultra-energy-efficient, SPW600e window and door system.
Acorn’s appointment follows a successful project partnership with Willmott Dixon, on its high-profile Perry Barr regeneration scheme.
At a combined value of £78m, the two plots included the construction of 430 one and two-bedroom apartments in four and six storey blocks designed by architect Corstorphine & Wright for Birmingham City Council.
“This is the second time we’ve worked with Willmott Dixon on a major new build scheme, following on from the programme which we supported in Perry Barr, Birmingham”, explains Paul Stevens, Managing Director, Acorn Aluminium.
He continues: “In bringing pretty much the same partnership which successfully delivered Perry Barr together for a second time, Willmott Dixon has achieved a number of efficiencies on site, supporting delivery on time and to budget.
The right products, as well as the right partners
The Senior SPW600 is a highly versatile 75mm window system, while its also available in the SPW600e enhanced thermal option, which uses additional thermal inserts on top of the latest polyamide thermal breaking technologies used across the range.
The SF52 curtain walling system from Senior Architectural Systems, is defined by a consistent slim 52mm sightline. It also offers an exceptional level of flexibility and is suitable for both ground floor and high-rise applications, with full weather testing to CWCT and EN13830.
Accommodating glass units of up to 56mm, this combines to create a highly cost-effective commercial window capable of achieving a BFRC A Rating.
“The SF52 curtain walling system and the SPW600 are established systems”, continues Paul.
“They’re proven and deliver significant design flexibility along with advanced thermal performance.
“Selecting the right products based on the specific requirement of individual schemes is key. It sounds so obvious, but it doesn’t always happen, because sometimes price gets in the way. That creates problems on site and through-life.”
Capability and shared expertise
Investment-led Acorn Aluminium has been quietly building increased capacity in its capability for the past five years.
This included a move into its new state-art-the-art 30,000 sq ft manufacturing capability at the end of 2019. Accompanied by major investment in the latest cutting and machining centres and CNC capabilities, with further investment this year, it gives it one of the most advanced dedicated architectural aluminium manufacturing facilities in the UK.
“Projects including Perry Barr and Northminister have helped us to flush out a much better understanding of our capabilities, the things that we need to do to make sure that we deliver the right service and right product to main contractors.
“Combined with the investment that we have made this year in our manufacturing capability, it puts us in a very strong position to take on and successfully deliver against large scale schemes.
“The decision Willmott Dixon to bring many of the same sub-contractors back to site on this scheme, illustrates the positive impact that a highly collaborative approach can have in supporting highly effective delivery of commercial windows and doors, and ultimately homes.
“It’s a refreshing approach to delivery which has supported us, alongside other sub-contractor partners in delivering projects to budget and on time.”
For more about Acorn Aluminium please call 0115 928 2166, email [email protected] or visit www.acornalumnium.com