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IKEA’s modular housing comes to the UK

This collaborative concept imported from Scandinavia will offer wellbeing-focussed affordable housing.

By Hugh Metcalf | 27 May 2020

IKEA’s affordable housing collaboration has found a manufacturer to bring the concept to life in the UK.

Image: BoKlok

From speeding up the self-build process to providing a fast, cost-effective solution for tackling the housing crisis, modular housing is one Modern Method of Construction that has opportunities in the UK that remain to be explored.

Boklok, a modular housing concept co-owned by Skanska and IKEA, had previously announced plans to expand into the UK, however, it has now found a UK-based manufacturer to work with to see this vision brought to life. TopHat, a manufacturers which specialise in modular housing for developers already, has been selected for an initial 5 year contract for this particular brand of affordable builds.

IKEA’s affordable housing collaboration has found a manufacturer to bring the concept to life in the UK.

exterior cgi of boklok home - grand designs

Image: BoKlok

Image: BoKlok

The concept focuses on manufacturing two and three-bedroom houses featuring key characteristics such as natural light, low energy consumption and IKEA fittings. The homes will be made using timber frame methods, and will all be BOPAS (Building Offsite Property Assurance Scheme) certified.

However, at present, BoKlok is not available to self-builders, rather focusing on providing quality affordable housing for those looking to get on the property ladder.

It is looking for sites at present with opportunities to buidl between 40 and 200 homes. It has developed as many as 12,000 homes in Sweden, Finland and Norway to date.