Prefabs key to solving Housing Accord demand for 1.2 million homes

MODULAR homes can play a critical role in helping reach the Federal Government’s 1.2 million Housing Accord target.

That’s the view of a growing number of industry experts, including Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson who led a Modern Methods of Construction forum in Sydney.

Stevenson said innovation in construction would play a critical part in helping NSW meet its National Housing Accord delivery target.

“NSW needs more homes, faster, but the new housing we need is being delivered at one of the slowest rates in a decade,” Stevenson said.

 “And this construction challenge extends beyond residential into commercial and industrial projects.

“Modular and prefabricated construction can cut build times by up to 50 per cent, reduce waste, lower on-site emissions and improve quality.

“It’s the kind of breakthrough we need if we’re serious about meeting housing and infrastructure targets.

“If we want to hit our housing and infrastructure goals, we need practical changes to regulation, finance and procurement that unlock delivery at scale.”

Stevenson said it was vital to drive innovation and scale MMC, including faster planning and approvals, harmonised regulation for prefabricated building work, plus incentives for R&D and commercialisation.

“These reforms are essential if we are to meet our National Housing Accord targets by 2029 and keep major projects moving across all asset classes,” Stevenson said.

PrefabAUS says prefabs and Smart Building will supply 30 per cent of all construction by 2033.

It has previously suggested that it would build 50 per cent of the homes planned under the Housing Accord – in its final year in 2030.

The industry association also predicted that Australian prefabrication would supply 80 percent of the build for the 2032 Queensland Olympic Games athletes’ village.

• Look out for the next Australian Conveyancer where we have an in-depth feature on the modular homes.