Doors open to Walsall factory set to produce 1,000 homes a year

The first house is set to roll off the production line of a state-of-the-art factory which has capacity to produce more than 1,000 new homes a year.

The new 56,000 sq ft plant is being launched by LoCaL Homes and is being officially opened today by Housing Minister Kit Malthouse.

Part of Accord Housing Association, this is LoCaL Homes’ second offsite factory in the West Midlands and is the result of £1m of investment from the organisation.

It is expected to create 75 jobs and increase Accord’s delivery of new homes by 300%.

The launch of the innovative manufacturing plant has been welcomed by ministers.

“Innovation is crucial to delivering the homes communities need, which is why £2.5bn of our Home Building Fund provides support for modern methods of construction,” said Malthouse.

“This new factory is great news for the West Midlands and a clear example of the potential for modern methods of construction to support more, better, faster housebuilding.”

The investment marks a significant step forward for the housing sector in its drive to support the government’s ambitions to deliver 300,000 homes per year by the mid-2020s.

Chief executive of Accord Housing Association, Dr Chris Handy, said: “The knowledge and experience the team has been developing since the launch of our first factory over seven years ago means we have been constantly innovating and improving when it comes to providing the homes the country needs quickly, without compromising on quality.

“Whilst we have big ambitions to produce more than 1,000 homes per year, we require a collaborative and strategic approach across the country to meet housing need. That’s why we have developed an approach which can be replicated and we’ll be working with housing and local authority partners to make this a reality.

“I am immensely proud that we’ve been able to create career opportunities for local people as well as creating affordable, beautiful homes that people love to live in.

“As a housing association, we are run on social purpose principles and ultimately this is about creating the best homes and communities, boosting local economies and improving people’s lives. We will be recruiting up to 75 more people to work in the new factory. I am genuinely excited about what this new factory signifies for the future.”