Welsh government aims to boost modular with Affordable Homes Taskforce

Jack Sargeant, Wales’s minister for culture, skills and social partnership, had been lined up to chair the taskforce under Mr Gething, but it is unclear at this stage who will now head up the group.

A Welsh government spokesperson told Social Housing there was no further update on the taskforce at this stage.

In an article earlier this year, Mr Sargeant argued that modular housing should be used more, as it requires less labour, homes are built quicker and it is “less disruptive to existing communities”.

In England, the modular housing sector has faced difficulties. A number of high-profile firms have failed, including Ilke Homes, Legal & General Modular Homes and Homes England-backed House by Urban Splash. 

Plans for a £10m modern methods of construction (MMC) taskforce were announced by then-chancellor Rishi Sunak in 2021, but it was never officially launched.

However, some councils in Wales are using modular, including Cardiff Council, which is working with contractor Wates to deliver 235 offsite homes. 

Overall, the devolved Welsh administration is aiming to deliver 20,000 low-carbon social rent homes in the current five-year Senedd term, which began in 2021.

Wales previously sought to boost the MMC sector. 

In 2020, Julie James, the Welsh housing minister at the time, announced the government was investing £45m in MMC to build more social and affordable homes.

Ms Bryant, who was appointed to the housing role in July, also revealed last week that she had written to housing associations and councils over the summer, asking them to “set out what more they can do to help achieve much-needed homes”.

“My letter asks registered social landlords and local authorities to prioritise efforts and resources on schemes that deliver the most significant levels of social housing; to explore how best all funding streams are utilised to deliver more homes; and to maximise opportunities through acquisitions,” she said.

The responses are being analysed and will inform the government’s work with landlords to “help unlock schemes, support and monitor delivery”, Ms Bryant added.