Client: Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT)
Location: Isle of Mull; Oskamull and Acharonich
Project value: £1.02M
Number of homes: 4
Property range: 2 and 3-bedroom bungalows
Project timeline: July 2020 – May 2021
In May 2021 Connect Modular completed four affordable homes on two separate sites (Oskamull and Acharonich) in the remote location of Ulva Ferry on the Isle of Mull.
The efficiencies gained through running site preparation and module construction concurrently meant the build was completed within seven months, delivered on time and on budget, in spite of taking place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The development is comprised of four modular homes across the two sites: two 2-bedroom houses and two 3-bedrom houses, all of which were manufactured in The Wee House Company’s Ayrshire factory and delivered to site 90% complete, with bathrooms and kitchens installed as well as plumbing and electrics already in place.
The style of the houses is in keeping with the local architecture and complements the picturesque setting – traditional cottage proportions clad in vertical larch with corrugated metal roofs and coloured front doors sit comfortably in the stunning, rural landscape with its rolling hills and outlook to the sea; quiet, tranquil and calm. In terms of design, a lot of consideration was given to island living – larger than normal larder cupboards were included in the kitchen area to store additional shopping when ferries are intermittent in winter months and there is generous storage for outdoor apparel in the porch area.
Though traditional in appearance the houses are produced as modular units, under controlled factory conditions enabling precision as well as making quality control easier. Part funded by Ecology Building Society, the homes had strict environmental performance criteria to meet. This was achieved through a combination of high-quality insulation, better air tightness and the use of solar PV panels.
Local residents enjoyed watching the modules be craned into position on site, after being delivered to Mull via the Oban to Craignure ferry. Module dimensions were designed with meticulous accuracy to ensure safe passage on the ferry and across single track roads on the final leg of the journey.
Following years of feasibility work and fundraising to purchase land and meet construction costs, the delivery of these homes has secured the future sustainability of the fragile Ulva Ferry community, increasing the resident working age population by 10% and the school roll by 50%.
“We have found working with The Wee House Company a really positive experience. From design and planning through to construction and the logistics of transporting the modules to site, their team have been brilliant to work with, quickly resolving any issues along the way. The new affordable homes sit so well in the Ulva Ferry landscape and will make such a difference to our community. I would highly recommend The Wee House Company and their modular construction approach to other community groups seeking sustainable, affordable housing solutions”.
Helen MacDonald, Housing Project Officer – Mull and Iona Community Trust
In November 2021, this project was crowned the winning entry in the ‘“Excellence in development for affordable housing” category at the Scotland Housing Awards.
