COMPLETED PROJECT
Client: North Ayrshire Council
Location: Stevenston, North Ayrshire
Project value: £1.3m
Number of homes: 6
Property Range: Amenity bungalows
Project timeline: Feb – July 2023
Connect Modular was appointed by North Ayrshire Council following competitive tender to deliver six new amenity bungalows at Afton Court, Stevenston on a brownfield site formerly occupied by a sheltered housing complex.
The development, supported by a Scottish Government grant, saw the construction of two one-bedroom and four two-bedroom affordable homes in the heart of the Ayrshire town.
Afton Court is a tight, urban infill site on the corner of a busy road junction to the south of Stevenston town centre. Connect Modular worked hard to further maximise the amount of work completed in the factory and thereby minimise onsite works and associated disruption to local residents.
A flexible, silicone based K-rend render was applied within the factory as the final external finish. Cleverly designed cladding panels were quickly applied on site to cover connections and complete the external finish. The render was completed during a week of cold weather when temperatures plummeted below zero during the drying period but heaters were utilisted to maintain programme. These works would not have been possible on site and would have been further delayed by heavy rainfall the following week.
Connect Modular worked collaboratively with North Ayrshire Council to ensure designs were capable of modular construction whilst also achieving the long term needs of the end user to encourage independent living. The residents of Afton Court benefit from excellent energy performance through a highly insulated building fabric, complimented by the installation of air-source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels. The properties also feature a misting fire suppression system.
Connect Modular also delivered community benefits in line with the Council’s policy, providing training opportunities and utilising local suppliers as far as possible. The two organisations also held a ‘Meet the Builder’ event to give the local community the opportunity to view final plans and understand the modular construction process.
This is the second project Connect Modular has delivered for North Ayrshire Council, having completed 31 affordable, modular homes at Seamill in 2019.
“North Ayrshire Council has built a strong working relationship with Connect Modular on innovative housing projects in Seamill and Stevenston. The projects were delivered to a high standard and were well received by residents.”
Fiona Ellis, Senior Manager, Housing and Public Protection, North Ayrshire Council
“We are delighted to have partnered with North Ayrshire Council in the design, construction, and delivery of these amenity bungalows at Afton Court, Stevenston.
Our modular construction methods were instrumental in minimising disruption to the community that closely surrounds the compact urban infill site. Furthermore, with volatile weather conditions, we were able to bring programme stability through constructing modules in our protected environment, as well as the inherent quality enhancements associated with volumetric construction”.
Richard Reid, Acting CEO of Connect Modular Ltd.
