The first factory-built homes at a housing association’s ground-breaking development in Gloucestershire have been craned into place.

We're building 28 new homes at Stockwells in Moreton-in-Marsh, all of which are being built in sections by leading modular housebuilder ilke Homes. Now the first modules have been transported from ilke’s Yorkshire factory to Gloucestershire and our colleagues joined those from ilke Homes and Cotswold District Council to watch them arrive and be craned into place. A total of 10 homes have been delivered to the site so far, with the remaining 18 due to arrive in the month ahead.

Millie Nicholls, regeneration project manager at Bromford said: “It’s been so exciting to see the first of these modular homes being lowered into place here in Moreton-in-Marsh.

“With high energy prices continuing to fuel the cost-of-living crisis, it’s never been more important to build energy efficient affordable housing. Not only will customers benefit from living in A-rated homes which require less energy to run, it is another step for us to making sure all of our homes have at least a C Energy Performance Certificate rating by 2028.

“This is the first development of its kind for us in the Cotswolds and our first project with ilke Homes. We can’t wait to see the rest of the homes arrive on site in the weeks ahead so we can put the finishing touches to them and make them ready for customers to move in. We hope to work with them on further sites in the next few years to deliver more affordable, energy efficient homes for our customers.”

Tom Heathcote, executive director of development at ilke Homes, added: “This site milestone demonstrates offsite manufacturing’s ability to speed up the delivery of highly energy-efficient, affordable homes.

“ilke Homes is increasingly becoming a partner of choice for housing associations looking to scale up the delivery of much-needed housing. Much like many councils and housing associations across the country, Bromford and Cotswold District Council understand the role modular housing has to play in enhancing the build quality of homes and their ability to speed up construction programmes.

"We look forward to working closely with all delivery partners to bring this scheme forward.”

Thanks to £550,000 of funding from Cotswold District Council, the finished homes will also boast additional sustainable features such as solar panels, battery storage and air source heat pumps, making them some of the most energy efficient homes in the country.

Leader of Cotswold District Council, Cllr Joe Harris, said: “It was great to watch this development take shape. This is an innovative zero-carbon housing scheme and the first modular build of its kind anywhere in the Cotswolds.

“Our housing teams have worked incredibly hard to build a strong relationship with Bromford and I would like to thank them for all their efforts in bringing about this fantastic scheme for the Cotswolds.

“This is the standard we expect of affordable housing here in the Cotswolds. Not only do we want housing to be zero carbon, we want it to be genuinely affordable. This development is set to make Stockwells of the best parts of Moreton and we’re confident these exemplar modern homes will do just that.”

The new homes we're building at Stockwells replace a street of 24 non-traditional properties that had been built as a quick-build solution to the housing shortage in the 1950s. But over the years their condition had deteriorated and they were experiencing issues with damp and draughts. The former properties were demolished in the summer of 2022 and the groundwork prepared for the arrival of the new homes. The finished two- and three- bedroom homes will all be available at social rents to let when completed later this year.