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TopHat to produce 183 factory-built homes for site in Kent
Modular housing manufacturer TopHat has secured planning permission to deliver a further 183 factory-built homes at Kitchener Barracks in Chatham, Kent.
This third phase of the project will include the construction of three four-storey blocks of modular apartments, comprising 96 one and two-bedroom homes. Of these, 32 new apartments will be affordable.
All 96 apartments will be precision-engineered along high-tech production lines at TopHat’s factory in South Derbyshire. Work is expected to start on site in the new year, creating a number of jobs both in Kent and Derbyshire.
In total, TopHat is delivering almost 300 new homes at the 4.8-acre Kitchener Barracks site. The new homes are being delivered across three phases, with over 100 already delivered.
Modular housing manufacturer TopHat has secured planning permission for a further 183 factory-built homes at a site in Kent / Picture: TopHat
The new apartments will be the first TopHat has ever delivered and signals the company’s move to delivering alternative residential assets for investors, such as build-to-rent and co-living schemes. The company is backed by a £75m investment from Goldman Sachs, the US investment bank which has been building its build-to-rent portfolio over the last few years.
By manufacturing apartments offsite, TopHat says it is able to cut delivery times by half compared to traditional methods.
Andrew Shepherd, managing director at TopHat, said: “This latest milestone at Kitchener Barracks will see us begin the delivery of our first apartments. These new apartments demonstrate the solid growth of our business as we continue to diversify our product range to help our clients. Kitchener Barracks has been a huge focus of ours for the last few years and we’re extremely proud to be delivering these new, sustainable homes.”
The modular apartments will be manufactured at TopHat’s factory in South Derbyshire / Picture: TopHat