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Modular housing factory to create 400 jobs in Leeds
Over 400 jobs will be created at a Legal & General modular home factory in Leeds, bringing a skills revolution to the local area.
The factory is the largest of its type in Europe and will focus on the production of much needed homes that are greener, safer and cheaper. Once fully operational, it aims to produce over 3,500 homes a year.
During a visit to the site, housing minister Esther McVey met with apprentices at the onsite Legal & General Modular Academy, who are learning vital new skills in modern methods of construction to deliver high quality, green homes.
Over 400 jobs will be created at the Legal & General modular factory in Leeds / Picture: Legal & General
New housebuilding techniques, in which homes are manufactured offsite and assembled onsite, allow homes to be built in days instead of months. They can also have up to 80% fewer defects and reduce heating bills by up to 70%.
The visit is the latest step in the Government’s drive to make the North of England the world-leader in the creation of modern, green homes – creating the ‘Construction Corridor’ that runs from Leeds to Liverpool.
Rosie Toogood, chief executive of Legal & General Modular Homes, said: “What we are doing at Legal & General Modular Homes is ground breaking. We have taken a high-tech engineering approach to developing our product range, designing and manufacturing homes in a truly innovative way that will transform the way homes are built in the UK.
“As a group, Legal & General takes a holistic view on the built environment. We are delivering economic and social solutions for towns and cities through regional regeneration. We believe modular manufacturing is vital to delivering much needed homes, alongside supporting new skilled jobs and productivity growth for the UK.”
The facility will produce over 3,500 homes a year once fully operational / Picture: Legal & General
Esther McVey, housing minister, added: “I want the UK to become the world leader in modular homes within the next 10 years, with safety, quality and choice at its heart. Homes built using modern methods can be of higher quality, greener and built to last.
“With our emphasis on safety, quality and beauty, the North of England could be the global leader in modern methods of construction. Today’s announcement shows Leeds is wasting no time in investing in new technology and getting Britain building.”
The investment builds on an announcement last year by the housing minister that Government wants to create a centre of excellence in the North for modern methods of construction to help speed-up house building to meet its target of 300,000 new homes being delivered each year by the mid-2020s.
In November, the Government announced a £30m boost for ilke Homes, a top UK housebuilder using modern methods, which will boost production at the Yorkshire factory to 5,000 homes a year.