‘Flatpack’ or ‘Modular’ homes are increasing in popularity across the UK, easy and quick to set up, cost-effective and can be implemented just about anywhere. Could these pre-fab structures be the saving grace for Cornwall’s already strained housing market? Cornwall desperately needs a stopgap, and these homes could be the solution.
‘Flatpack’ homes are pre fabricated structures, usually made in parts off site in factories and warehouses then transported where needed to be assembled, often quicker to put up than regular brick and mortar housing, Modular houses can consist of complex luxury structures or smaller cheaper ‘mini homes’ that can be set up in a range of different locations and environments. Several flatpack home-dedicated companies are working in the UK, including SoloHuas and Huf Haus. Companies like these specialise in providing modular home solutions to buyers in the UK, including as of 2024, Cornwall Council.
‘Modular’ homes are often eco-friendly, affordable and speedy to assemble making them an ideal stop gap for the Cornish housing market, which in recent years has become one of the most unaffordable areas in the UK, according to ‘Rightmove’ the average price of a home in Cornwall was £343,685, but the average salary (according to Cornwall Council) was only £23000, £2000 below the national average, the council also states that 4 out of 10 jobs in Cornwall are low paid. The availability of housing in Cornwall is also low with factors like second homes and private landlords reducing the amount of homes residents can buy, according to Cornwall council in 2023 there were 13,140 second homes in Cornwall, around 5% of the total housing stock, and although measures such as increased council tax for second home owners are set to aliviate demand, there is still a significant strain placed on the Cornish housing market. Rising costs and the continuation of the Cornish housing crisis mean that the modular solution is becoming more appealing.
There are several reasons as to why the modular home solution would work for Cornwall, including its suitability for rural and coastal locations with limited infrastructure. According to a report from Cornwall Council, the county has already started to capitalise on modular housing to help some of Cornwall’s most vulnerable residents. In 2024, Cornwall council signed a landmark deal with the modular home developer, SoloHuas, allowing homeless people in Cornwall to move into a modular development in Truro, as well as developments in Newquay, Penzance and Penryn. These tiny homes are stackable to two levels and are fitted with a range of modern features, including heat recovery systems and are heated with an air-source heat pump. The homes also come with low-energy white goods and fully furnished living areas. SoloHuas also states that the homes can be constructed in as little as 15 days off-site and take just 30 minutes to be transported to the location.
This shows that modular housing has already been successful in Cornwall, where implemented, and that there’s room for developments like these to be expanded to meet demand on a larger scale. The Eco benefits are also an important aspect of modular housing. With most manufacturing taking place off-site, the environmental cost of construction can be significantly reduced.
However, for all the benefits, there are many challenges and considerations that have to be accounted for. In future, if modular homes are going to be utilised more often then considerations around longevity and quality of modular housing, for example, the modular housing constructed for Cornwall’s homeless, which only has a lifespan of around 60 years, as opposed to the typical life of a brick and mortar home which can last for upwards of 200. There are also infrastructure and transport concerns to consider, Cornwall is largely rural and the road system isn’t suited to large trucks transporting modular home parts, transportation may also take time as the manufacturing facilities for producing these homes may be in another region of the country and have to be shipped in, often reducing the time for assembly and the eco-friendliness of this solution.
Looking ahead, it seems that as modular homes gain more attention, they could bring real value to areas such as Cornwall on a wider scale than currently seen. The future of modular housing relies on the success of ongoing schemes and whether Cornwall council deems these to be realistically scalable to tackle more of Cornwall’s housing strain. As the technology surrounding these homes also improves, there also comes the option to build homes like these as permanent structures with longer lifespans and able to accommodate more people, allowing the Cornish stock of social housing to increase at a fast rate while remaining budget-friendly. With the right planning and forethought, flat pack homes might be the answer to Cornwall’s housing plight