Tide Construction Ltd in Croydon has gained planning permission for two of the tallest modular towers in the world
The towers set for 101 George Street, Croydon, will be the world’s tallest structures to have been built off-site using modular construction, a method providing a much faster alternative to traditional construction, without compromising on the quality of the building or the versatility of the design.
The 38-storey and 44-storey modular towers, scaling 135 metres, have been designed specifically for the rental market and will be professionally managed onsite offering residents a 24/7 service.
Residents, and the local community, will benefit from a range of facilities including winter gardens, an art gallery, an incubator hub for local businesses and an on-site café. Furthermore, each tower will contain gyms, club rooms and garden terraces.
Not only does the scheme break height records, but it will also be delivered in just 24 months, from construction starting, to residents moving into their new homes.
As well as reducing disruption for locals, the modular construction will create huge value for investors as it means apartments can be rented out much earlier than if they were built using conventional methods. The modules that make up the towers are constructed offsite in a controlled factory environment to ensure a higher quality finish, with 80% less waste, fewer onsite workers and greater certainty on costs and time.
The Croydon planning committee commended the scheme for its use of pioneering building techniques.
Tide Construction and their associate company Vision Modular Systems held the record for Europe’s tallest modular tower with their student accommodation scheme in Wembley, Apex House. With a height of 90-metres and built using 679 modules, the 29-storey project was completed in 12 months.
101 George Street will exceed Apex House by 15 storeys and is due to start onsite before Christmas.
Christy Hayes, CEO of Tide Construction Ltd, said:
“This project is a huge milestone for both us as a company and for modular developments as an innovative, modern method of construction. This development emphasises the true potential of modular construction as a genuine solution to the UK’s housing crisis, where high-quality homes can be delivered at pace in sought after urban areas. Both the government and industry are realising the benefits of modular construction, with 101 George Street being a pivotal moment for modular construction in the UK.”
The scheme will be made from nearly 1,500 modules that are manufactured and installed by Vision Modular Systems. The development has been designed by architects HTA.
The fit out of each module is carried out in Vision’s purpose-built manufacturing facility in Bedford, where the majority of the fit out is installed including electrics and plumbing before the module is transported to the site. This approach saves time during the construction process, dramatically reduces onsite waste and lessens the demand for labour onsite.
Simon Bayliss, managing partner at HTA, added:
“The technological advances made in modular construction mean that projects of this size are possible in London and throughout the rest of the UK. The towers at George Street show that choosing to go modular doesn’t mean you must sacrifice great design. Modern offsite construction has a proven track record and needs to be front and centre of plans to solve the housing crisis.”
Modular construction is gaining support from both government and the private sector due to its many benefits. Communities secretary Sajid Javid visited the Vision Modular Systems’ factory in Bedford last year and recently announced his support for offsite construction, stating that modular is “the most popular way to build modern, stylish homes in Germany and Japan. Now it’s going to happen here.”
