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Victorian affordable housing provider, Haven Home Safe, embraces modular construction to deliver streamlined, sustainable living solutions in Horsham.
Haven Home Safe (HHS), a leading affordable housing provider in Victoria, is making significant strides in Horsham by embracing modular construction to deliver 25 innovative one and two-bedroom dwellings. Valued at $8.1 million, the project is part of the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build funded by Homes Victoria and may well be a harbinger of a new construction and delivery model. (main pic: Modular housing under construction at ARKit for Haven Home Safe. Credit: Ashley Han.)
Last week’s factory visit by the Victorian Minister for Housing, Harriet Shing, local Member for Laverton, Sarah Connolly, and CEO of Homes Victoria, Simon Newport, underscored the Victorian Government’s interest in modular construction. ARKit, owned by Craig Chatman and situated in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine, is an established specialist in offsite construction. They are nearing a significant milestone with the first tranche of prefabricated volumetric modules ready for site installation.
HHS’s decision to utilise volumetric modular construction for the affordable housing development was a strategic response to the unique challenges in Horsham, particularly the scarcity of skilled trades. A comprehensive tender process, involving both traditional and modular builders, led to the selection of Arkit, based in Sunshine, who were distinguished by their competitive pricing and all-encompassing service. Their proposal, including all site and civil works, was found to be more efficient and cost-effective than that of traditional onsite builders, with their tender being approximately 8% lower in cost.
Jack Haber, Head of Development at HHS, highlighted the significance of modular development. “Regardless of whether manufacturers supply a flat-pack kit of parts, frames, and trusses, or volumetric solutions, the key to wider developer acceptance of prefab for multi-residential projects lies in the industry’s ability to genuinely address and solve real customer issues. For us, this involves evolving from being mere suppliers to offering a comprehensive licensed contractor service.”
HHS’s approach not only ensures a streamlined construction process but also meets the growing demand for efficient, sustainable, and high-quality housing solutions. For Haber, the Horsham project is more than just building homes; it’s about pioneering new standards in the construction industry and demonstrating the potential of modern methods of construction (MMC) to effectively tackle the housing crisis.
With the first tranche of volumetric modules almost ready for delivery and installation on site, and the project set for completion in June 2024, it underscores a shift towards modular solutions that are time and cost-efficient and responsive to broader market dynamics and housing needs.
With the government’s backing and the industry’s move towards innovative modular construction methodologies, the HHS project in Horsham reflects a growing trend where the integration of smart, sustainable, and customer-focused construction methods is not just a choice but a necessity to meet the rising housing demands in the country.
