Offsite Homes Alliance

Innovation Chain North is partnering with the Offsite Homes Alliance (OSHA) to use its recently launched Modular Dynamic Purchasing System to support OSHA in realising its ambition of delivering 9,000 offsite homes per year.

OSHA, an alliance of 23 housing providers, is using the Innovation Chain North Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), to onboard suppliers. The alliance aims to be delivering homes using these technologies by the end of the year.

The other OSHA partners include Bolton at Home, Gentoo, The Guinness Partnership, Irwell Valley, Jigsaw, Mosscare St Vincent’s, One Housing, Riverside, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Stockport Homes, Thirteen, Together, Trafford Housing Trust, Wythenshawe Community Housing and Your Housing Group.

The Modular DPS was set up at the end of last year alongside the existing ICN framework, to support affordable housing providers with the delivery of new homes across the north of England. The system will also support Great Places’ commitment to the increasing use of modular construction methods, which speeds up the build process. A total of eight firms were successful in the first wave of appointments to the DPS – Ilke Homes ltd, Adston, Cygnum Timber Frame Ltd, LF Fasthouse Ltd, Net Zero Buildings Ltd, OSCO Homes Ltd, Extraspace Solutions Ltd and Ideal Modular Homes Ltd.

The DPS has recently reopened to additional applications from suppliers of Modern Method of Construction (MMC) Category 1 and MMC Category 2 technologies.

Commenting on the partnership with OSHA Helen Spencer, Director of Development, said:

“We’re excited to be working with OSHA to help them realise its ambitions to use the latest innovative construction methods to deliver its members extensive development programmes and Great Places’ ambition to be developing the majority of its new homes using modular construction techniques by 2028.”

“Since its launch late last year we’ve been delighted with response from interested parties and we hope to receive a significant number of additional high-quality applications in the next few weeks.

The Modular DPS is open to all modular home suppliers who can submit their interest to join at any time by contacting icn@greatplaces.org.uk