PLACE (Pan-London Accommodation Collaborative Enterprise) Ltd is looking for modular homes to tackle homelessness in London
The not-for-profit organisation wants to build precision-manufactured family homes that have the quality of permanent housing but can be moved from one site to another as required to ease homelessness in London.
The accommodation will be placed on vacant sites that would otherwise remain underused.
Mark Baigent, PLACE Ltd’s Director, said:
“Our aim is to challenge and inspire the housing design and construction industry to create an innovative and high-quality product to meet London’s opportunities and needs head-on.
“We want to procure attractive and spacious factory-built homes that can be easily moved from site to site around London. We look forward to sharing our vision and seeing what the rapidly growing modular market can offer.”
There are currently over 54,300 London households living in temporary accommodation – of which nearly 44,000 are families with children.
This is the first time UK local authorities are collaborating to acquire modular housing to tackle homelessness in London.
The project has been developed by the London Housing Directors’ Group in collaboration with partners from across London’s local government.
Supported by the Greater London Authority, which is investing £11 million from its innovation fund, PLACE is hosted by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and has an initial target of delivering 200 modular homes across the capital.
Councillor Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive member for housing and planning, said:
“Rising rates of homelessness represent a momentous challenge for the capital and London’s boroughs are determined to work together to secure better options for local families in need of a home.
“PLACE is exactly the sort of exciting new approach we need to see – innovative collaboration that will improve outcomes for homeless Londoners.”
PLACE Ltd will deliver a mixture of two and three-bedroom family properties, which boroughs have identified as the property type most needed to tackle homelessness in London.
PLACE Ltd will hold a launch event on Wednesday 25 July at 9am at London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council Chambers. This will be an opportunity for potential providers to hear more about the programme and ask questions.
