Owen Paterson, Conservative MP for North Shropshire has been impressed by Elements Europe’s proposed solutions to the affordable housing market and the prospect of more jobs for the area.

Mr Paterson has paid a visit to The Pickstock Group, a privately owned international group of companies with interests in construction, property development, manufacturing, investment and food processing.

The MP met directors of The Pickstock Group and its subsidiaries Elements Europe and J Ross Developments when staff from the offsite construction experts outlined their plans for the production of modular homes.

The MP saw at first hand how the company has developed Ty Unnos modular, an innovative offsite constructed housing system which delivers sustainable performance at affordable cost.

The company believes the system will provide the answer to overcrowding and first-time buyer barriers-to-entry while providing employment for the area.

Ty Unnos exceeds current housing sustainability standards and will assist the Government with its delivery of affordable and social housing.

Mr Paterson said: ” I was tremendously impressed by the quality of the products of this Oswestry-based company which will provide a radical system to solve the problem of affordable housing.”

“The modular system is a high-quality product and extremely energy efficient. Its success will reduce energy emissions, provide a solution to the housing market shortage and bring jobs to the area.”

Element’s Europe is a specialist in modular construction, providing pods to all sectors of the construction industry including hotels, care homes, student accommodation and local authorities. Current clients include Premier Inn, Butlins, and European Care.

“We at Elements Europe are very excited about our new product,” said Wayne Morgan, Managing Director.

“We believe it will provide the solution to many of the country’s housing issues. It is affordable and achieves level four on the code for sustainable homes, meaning that the house is truly accessible to everybody, even first time buyers. The sale price for a completed home starts at £68,000.

“And it isn’t just the buying price which is attractive but energy bills for an entire year will cost substantially less due to the efficient the house,” he added.

Editor’s Note:

So-called because of its Welsh timber frame superstructure and the speed of its construction, Ty Unnos literally translates from Welsh as ‘House Overnight’. Made from low-density timber, Ty Unnos is very lightweight and yet exceptionally strong. A unique laminating process and clever beam, column and joist arrangements result in a sturdy, load-bearing structure. Ty Unnos, which began as a collaborative project by Coed Cymru, the Design Research Unit at the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) and Bangor University two years ago, has clinched a string of awards for innovation, sustainability and design.

Ty Unnos Modular, a volumetric housing system based on the original concept, is now being developed by Elements Europe and will be launched to the affordable housing market in October. Elements Europe represents a new approach to the development and delivery of off-site construction solutions. Innovation and investment are the key components at the heart of the company’s ethos, creating a dynamic and forward-thinking business.

Elements Europe is one of the UK’s leading offsite construction specialists, delivering ‘pod’ solutions to contractors and developers in the hotel, care, housing and student accommodation sectors. Working closely with its construction and manufacturing partners, Elements Europe invests in research and development each year and leads the way in modular technology and sustainable design solutions.