PREVIEW

A full family home has been built in just 10 days - in all weathers - using a revolutionary “factory-in-a-box” system that experts say could help solve Britain’s housing crisis.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield demonstrated the innovative construction method by erecting a house from the ground up in little more than a week and a half.

The project, funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), aims to show how homes could be delivered faster, cheaper and with fewer delays, helping the Government reach its ambitious target of 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current parliament.

Instead of relying on traditional building methods - which often grind to a halt in bad weather - the system brings a mobile production line directly to the construction site, shielding workers and materials under a temporary canopy.

The result is a protected building environment that combines the precision of factory manufacturing with the flexibility of on-site construction.

Under the system, a rapidly assembled, weather-shielded production line is set up on the building site itself.

Rather than shipping large pre-built modules from distant factories - as with traditional modular housing - the Sheffield system transports a “kit of parts” and assembles them on location.

Once one house is complete, the canopy can simply be moved along to the next plot, allowing construction to continue with minimal interruption from rain or cold.

Developers say the approach dramatically cuts logistical hurdles, speeds up builds and reduces costs, while still delivering consistent quality.

Ben Hughes, Professor of Energy Engineering at the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre, said the project shows how advanced manufacturing techniques could transform housebuilding.

He said: “Our factory-in-a-box demonstrator is designed to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes in all weathers in a matter of weeks - that can be deployed at pace and scale.

“This demonstration shows that by coupling advanced manufacturing methods with on-site production systems it is possible to build the affordable, quality homes the country desperately needs, while improving efficiency and reducing costly delays.

“The Energy Innovation Centre’s location and proximity to the world-leading expertise and facilities at the University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) puts us in a unique position to help the government meet its ambitious housing targets, using South Yorkshire expertise as a manufacturing and training hub supporting a national roll-out.”

Paul Johnson, Strategic Lead – Investment Zone at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, said the technology highlights how research and industry can work together to address housing shortages.

He said: “This project shows how we can develop safe, high-quality, affordable homes that allow people to stay near and go far.

“By supporting the University’s factory-in-a-box system, we’re demonstrating how world-leading research, innovative business and public investment can come together to build the homes our communities need.”

Industry leaders also say industrialised construction methods will be crucial if Britain is to meet its housebuilding targets.

Richard Crosby, Director of Seismic Group Ltd, said: “Industrialised Construction is the only viable route forward to meet the government's ambitious targets and end the national housing crisis. Dealing with new and emerging skills requirements demands a joined up approach which the Sheffield Innovation District (Runway Park) has successfully demonstrated for many years.”

The demonstration took place at Runway Park, a 100-acre development forming part of the University of Sheffield’s Innovation District.

The site connects the university’s research expertise with businesses ranging from start-ups to multinational companies.

Researchers now hope to work with local authorities, housing associations and supply chain partners to scale up the technology and deliver homes across the UK.

If successful, the approach could allow entire housing developments to be built rapidly — even in Britain’s notoriously unpredictable weather.

With the country facing a chronic housing shortage, researchers hope the 10-day home experiment could help spark a new wave of faster, more efficient housebuilding across the UK.