Quick build homes not so swift

Delays hamper completion in Mid Devon village

Two sets of modular homes in a Mid Devon village still have not been completed even though one of the supposed quick-build properties was approved in 2023.

The developer behind the properties, Z Pods, describes itself as the UK leading modular housing company, yet its approved plans for one of its homes on Fir Close in Willand is still not in place years after approval was granted.

And a scheme for seven homes in Willand’s Somerlea has still not been completed, according to residents. Approval for those homes was only last year, but the supposed quick-build nature of the homes means they have taken longer to finish than predicted.

Mid Devon District Council views Z Pods homes as a quick way to bolster its social housing provision, and has previously shouted about award wins for schemes at St Andrews House in Cullompton, and shortlistings for Shapland Place in Tiverton.

With the Fir Close property, some claim the home that was supposed to be put on site was built years ago, and was even part of a demonstration event at a Mid Devon leisure centre in 2021.

It subsequently featured in marketing material for Mid Devon District Council, but has still not landed on its intended location.

Z Pods’ process means it constructs its properties at a factory, and then delivers them to site; on its website it states it offers a “full turnkey process” with builds from “start-to-finish in just a week” and installation of housing modules in “just one day”.

Mid Devon’s planning portal shows the Fir Close property was approved in July 2023, while Somerlea was given the go-ahead in March last year.

A more recent application linked to the Somerlea development, submitted in October last year and approved in January this year, requested some variations to the previously approved scheme, noting that aspects such as its landscape strategy and parking areas needed to be slightly altered.

Barry Warren, chairman of Willand Parish Council, said when the parish was approached with a view to the demonstration model being located in Fir Close they were supportive as it was said to be a new home for someone in a short space of time.

“Since then, there have been delays in getting answers and when received those answers raise more questions,” Cllr Warren said.

“The latest reason contains changes to building regulations and this is the first time we have heard of that.

“If it was built at the time indicated that would not have been a problem.”

Correspondence from Councillor Jane Lock (Liberal Democrat, Canonsleigh), the cabinet member whose portfolio covers housing, to Willand Parish Council, puts bureaucracy and issues with utilities in the firing line for the delays.

“The principle remaining issue is the change in building control regulations regarding access; the controls have changed since the original approval was granted,” the email from Cllr Lock, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, stated.

“Couple this with the widely reported utility delays, and the timeline has been extended in a way that could not have been predicted.

“As with every build scheme we must remain compliant with building control regulations, as without those the homes cannot be completed.”

Cllr Lock added that the new regulations meant amendments to the original approved designs have had to be made, “which has unfortunately had a direct impact on the overall delivery programme.

“The required changes are taking place at the factory rather than causing any unnecessary disruption on site, the updated specification will ensure the units are fully compliant and hopefully progress the scheme as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Cllr Lock added in her statement to Willand Parish Council.

Residents state work that was scheduled to happen in Fir Close last year has not happened, with claims that only a pole has been put up in the site, but without any cables even attached to it.

A statement from Mid Devon District Council said many of its projects were on brownfield, regeneration sites, meaning it “regularly encounters unmapped, live utilities”.

“This has created significant unplanned delays whilst utility companies agree diversion works, undertake these and reconnect services,” a council spokesperson said.

“We have no control over this problem.

“The utility delays at Fir Close were sufficiently long due to building control regulations regarding access having now changed since the original planning approval was granted.

“This has necessitated some changes to the design and layout of the unit. The utility issues are now resolved, and off-site re-fitting of the modular unit is being undertaken to meet the new design requirements.

“We hope to have an updated completion date shortly and anticipate this will be within the next few months, subject to utility company final connections.”

On Somerlea, the council spokesperson said it “remained on track to be completed within the year”.

“As brownfield development, the site has required demolition and clearance of existing structures in addition to a host of typical works to prepare for the new units,” the spokesperson said.

“These include groundworks and foundations, new utility provisions and new drainage.

“Once complete, the units were indeed delivered over just a few days and installed quickly. 

“We are currently completing the external render finishing, final internal fit, landscaping, parking and final utility connections.”

The council said it expected handover of the site at the end of March this year, and “we look forward to the seven much-needed new affordable homes being available for local tenants soon afterwards”.

“Delivering seven new homes within a year is quicker than the average timescale to bring forward a similar sized project using traditional build approaches and has also resulted in significantly less construction impact to neighbouring residents,” the council added.

Z Pods was contacted for comment, but did not respond.