Somerset manufacturer lands £2.4m shower pod contract
Somerset-based Offsite Solutions has secured a £2.4m contract to produce 761 GRP shower pods for McAleer & Rushe.
These pods will be used in a new 20-storey student accommodation project at Wembley Park, developed by GreystarOffsite Solutions.
The 770-bed project, designed by HTA and operated under the Canvas brand, is scheduled to welcome its first occupants in September 2025.
The shower rooms will feature a metro-style brick bond tile-effect finish, eliminating the need for grout in wet areas to minimise maintenance. Pod manufacturing is set to conclude by Spring 2024.
Harrison Hart, development associate at Greystar, said: “As a business, we are driving the use of offsite construction for bathrooms for the majority of our student schemes as it aligns with our ESG commitments. Pods generate less waste through more efficient use of materials, less traffic to the site, provide a better working environment for the bathroom fit out, and quality is better with significantly reduced snagging at practical completion.
“Design development for the bathrooms on this project has been an incredibly quick process and has been completed at an earlier stage than if we were using in-situ bathroom construction. It is then possible to see the first off pod early on to verify and refine the design detailing and to inform the design of the student bedrooms. It also provides a benchmark for quality control.
“Having one single supplier is very helpful to simplify procurement, design and site management, and still gives us flexibility. We also really like Offsite Solutions’ panelised GRP solution because it allows 90° corners that have an enhanced aesthetic compared to moulded bathroom pods.”
