The focus of
British Offsite is to enable delivery of occupiable properties faster, by addressing the many complexities involved in modern housebuilding.
They employ a hybrid approach that allows combining traditional building methods with modern methods of construction.
AVOID COMMON BUILD RISKS
The complexity of high density, urban brownfield developments, plus the pressure to deliver units at scale within clearly defined design parameters, leads many projects to default to a more traditional build approach.
However, traditional methods leave projects vulnerable to many risks, including labour shortages, supply chain delays, onsite storage and delivery issues. In combination with environmental sustainability commitments and health and safety targets, these can result in increased costs and a slower return on investment, as well as overall delivery delays.
MULTIPLE BUILD BENEFITS
British Offsite bring critical processes off-site, combining the work of up to five trades into the manufacture of one panel. This eliminates risks while retaining full control over design. Further benefits include:
• Acceleration of overall delivery/completion
• Reduced site waste
• Reduction in on-site inventory (ie less breakage/wastage)
• Freedom from labour/skills shortages
• Better cash-flow management
• Improved health and safety management
• Reduced noise pollution and disruption
APPROACH IN ACTION
Abbey Quay, Barking, is a new urban riverside development in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. It has 13 residential blocks ranging from seven to 29 storeys in height. The six-acre, 1,000-homes scheme is being delivered over the next five years and is using British Offsite’s UNisytem solution.
UNisystem is the most advanced light gauge steel panel system in the marketplace. It incorporates a highly flexible set of products capable of meeting every design and architecture need with precision.
For the superstructure, the project team at Abbey Quay utilised UNipanel, a light gauge steel (LGS) closed panel system. This LGS system comes pre-fitted with insulation, doors, windows, vent apertures, fire stopping and facade fixing systems. This is complemented by the use of UNiwall, an internal LGS compartmentalisation closed panel, which is pre-fitted with insulation, doorways, MEP and service void battens.
ENHANCED CAPACITY
With the launch of Horizon, British Offsite’s second factory, the company can now deliver 4,000 homes per year. The robots – mesmerising giants that have multi-jointed mobile ‘arms’ with claws and magnets – are guided in part by sensors and can transport, grab, cut, drill, nail, screw, weld, glue, fill, spray-paint and much, much more. Their specialist workforce of 130 people works in combination with the robots to meet exact specifications and requirements.
Shaun Weston, Managing Director of British Offsite, comments “You are actually going to get a home more tailored to you than you could ever imagine, and infinitely better made. Your choice of fittings and surfaces is multiplied through more efficient sourcing, buying, delivery and storage systems, and the specifications and overall quality are checked at every turn,”.
FABRIC FIRST
British Offsite’s factory operations and its UNisytem product range are part of an innovative ‘Fabric First’ approach to homebuilding, focused on reducing carbon emissions. “It’s about making the basic structure of a building the priority,” says Shaun Weston.
“Smart construction methods and building materials reduce carbon emissions at source, while the precision products that result reduce energy use while the homes are in operation. UNisystem is good for the homebuyer and the planet.”
