The use of prefab pods has always been shunned by the volume house-builders but Barratt is now exploring their use in a bid to beat the skills shortage.
The use of factory-made pods has proved effective at cutting costs and build time for budget hotels, fast-food restaurants and office blocks, where bathrooms, lavatories or kitchen facilities can be crane in as a ready-made unit.
But recognising that private house buyers don’t want their bathrooms to look like MacDonalds, developers have shunned their use in the housing market.
However, leading house-builder Barratt Developments has revealed today that it is running trials of factory constructed interior pods.
Barratt chief executive Mark Clare said: “With growing labour shortages and demands for higher environmental standards we are continuing to explore the use of alternative building techniques described as modern methods of construction. In the short term we are increasing the number of components that are manufactured offsite including roofing, joists and cavity wall systems. We are also trialling factory constructed interior pods and panels.”
