NSW government turns to modular housing to fast-track social homes

Factory-built social homes are nearing completion in Smithfield, with installation scheduled to begin in Wollongong within weeks. Built by Wild Modular, the homes mark the start of a modular rollout under the NSW Government’s Building Homes for NSW program, which aims to accelerate housing delivery using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). (main pic: Modular units in final stages of assembly at Wild Modular’s Smithfield facility, where construction is carried out under controlled factory conditions.)

The initial rollout includes three one-bedroom plus multipurpose room dwellings in Wollongong, with a further ten due for delivery in Shellharbour and Lake Macquarie by the end of the year. All units are being delivered by Smithfield-based Wild Modular and managed by Homes NSW.

Housing and Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson said modular homes offered a practical way to respond to housing demand without compromising quality or liveability.

“This is the future of social housing – smarter, faster, modern and built to provide tenants dignity,” Jackson said. “We’re using modern construction to deliver beautiful homes for people who need them most, cutting wait times and creating good local jobs along the way.”

The homes are being installed in the backyards of existing social housing sites, enabling infill development on land already held by the state. This approach reduces planning complexity and shortens delivery timelines.

Wild Modular was founded in 2021 by Tahi Merrilees and Alex Tattle, who brought together experience from residential, commercial, and infrastructure construction to develop a factory-based modular manufacturing model. The company now produces up to 450 modules per year.

“Our team are proud to support Homes NSW in delivering this program which proves that there is a smarter, faster, and more sustainable solution to the state’s housing needs,” said Wild Modular Co-founder and Executive Director Tahi Merrilees.

“These homes reflect what’s possible with volumetric modular construction—designed with precision, built under controlled conditions, and installed with minimal disruption.”

Merrilees said their facility operates more like an automotive production line than a building site, with design tolerances measured to the millimetre.

“Modern methods of construction isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about innovating with dignity, and quality, building a better future for our communities,” he said.

The NSW Government’s Modular Housing Taskforce is overseeing the broader integration of MMC across public housing developments statewide.

See: NSW Government MMC

See: Wild Modular