Stewart Milne Timber Systems in MMC partnership with leading housing association

The timber frame manufacturer will deliver the first stage of L&Q’s new construction strategy and also support L&Q on bids for standalone contracts in the open market.

This deal forms a key part of L&Q’s innovative Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) strategy, which will see all of its new build homes delivered with some form of MMC by 2025, with an entirely off-site manufactured home completed by 2028.

This will support L&Q’s plans to build 100,000 homes over the next 10 years.

“We are excited to be collaborating with Stewart Milne Timber Systems on our modern methods of construction programme,” said Fiona Fletcher-Smith, group director of development and sales at L&Q.

“Off-site manufacturing offers a range of exciting opportunities, speeding up the delivery and build quality of our developments whilst reducing the costs of projects.”

Stewart Milne Timber Systems was selected after demonstrating its ability to design, manufacture, supply and erect residential units up to six storeys tall, combined with its capabilities in Building Information Modelling.

“This is an ambitious and innovative partnership which lays down a significant marker for how new homes can be built at pace and to exacting design standards,” said Alex Goodfellow, group managing director of Stewart Milne Timber Systems.

“This strategic alliance and collaboration will allow L&Q to deliver on a number of fronts and we believe they are setting the standard for how we should approach the housing shortfall across the UK.”

The closed-panel timber frame structures will initially be used in the construction of L&Q’s new Counties developments at Birnam Mews, Tiddington and Saxon Reach, Milton Keynes, with the first deliveries in spring 2019.

L&Q’s £5 million per year Academy will accompany this with investment in up skilling apprentices and staff in MMC techniques.