Modular homes on council block rooftops approved

An innovative scheme to build more than 200 modular homes for social rent on the rooftops of existing council blocks has been given the go-ahead.

Newham Council mayor Rokhsana Fiaz and her cabinet approved
the proposals made by the council’s wholly owned housing company, Populo
Living.

Populo has been the given the green light to progress with
phase one of the programme, using around ten council owned blocks which have
the potential to deliver more than 200 new homes. An initial assessment of the
Council’s existing housing stock suggests at least 500 homes can be delivered
quickly using this method, with the potential for more.

Analysis by Populo suggests that the zero-carbon modular
homes could reduce the cost of building social housing by up to 25%.

Fiaz said: “This exciting project will help deliver new
affordable homes whilst reducing our carbon footprint and costs for the
Council. I am committed to delivering more than 1,000 new social rent homes by
March 2022. I’m proud that the Council is embracing innovative technologies to
deliver high quality, new, affordable homes quickly. This project has huge
potential to deliver thousands of homes across the borough over the next few
years.”