be used as a testing ground for the construction of hundreds of
“affordable” prefabricated homes.
A not-for-profit organization – Pure Advantage – backed by a
group of high-profile Kiwi business and civic leaders is calling for
expressions of interest from building firms to deliver 300 to 500
“affordable” homes manufactured “off-site”.
Pure Advantage wants to prove through the
pilot project that hundreds of prefab homes can be built in factories as is
done in other countries including the
States
and
Critics say it might be hard to convince Kiwis to buy the
prefab homes.
Pure Advantage was set up three years ago to promote a
greener
economy.
“Our intention is to deliver an at-scale pilot
development of 300 to 500 homes to prove the business model and kick start the
off-site manufacture industry,” chief executive Duncan Stewart said.
It is offering to help finance the expansion of any
company’s off-site manufacturing operation as part of the deal.
One of its funding partners, Kiwibank, could offer mortgages
to homeowners to buy the homes.
Pure Advantage wants the building firms to base the
factories in
use a local workforce and source materials nationally.
Master Builders Association
branch president Clive Barrington said he could not think of any big Kiwi
builders that built prefabricated homes already.
Thousands were built in the
architectural” but that was a huge market.
A company needed to produce a lot to be able to sell them at
affordable prices and still make a profit.
The biggest challenge would be getting New Zealanders to buy
them,
said.
“I think they are going to struggle. The average Kiwi
likes an individual house.”
Kiwis do not like the word prefabricated because it implied
temporary even if it meant pre-built.
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| What a Kiwi thinks a prefabricated house is made from |
He suspected some subdivisions would not allow small
prefabricated houses. “Would you want a transportable home next to you on
a brand new subdivision?”
