A HUGE new factory will see 1,000 flat pack homes built every year - creating 120 extra jobs.

Swan Housing and NU living have secured a 15-year lease at a newly built 116,841 square foot industrial unit - neighbouring the current factory in Prologis Park, off Honywood Road.

The industrial unit will see modular homes built on site before they are transported across south Essex.

With both factories in full operation, NU living will eventually be capable of delivering over 1,000 modular homes each year.

These would be distributed across south Essex and London, including to the £500 million Queensway scheme in Southend.

Geoff Pearce, Swan’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “The acquisition of our second factory is a key strategic move, which will give us the additional capacity to build at height using a steel framed approach and to increase the use of pre-manufacturing and componentisation which will deliver more high quality homes, more quickly.

Echo:

Deliveries - the modular homes built on site before they are transported across south Essex

“We were early adopters of this way of working and we have worked hard since 2017 to realise the opportunities and benefits that modular construction can bring.”

The new factory will create more than 120 additional jobs and will see further investment by Swan in training and skills.

The second factory will commence production in spring.

James Watson, development director for Panattoni who developed the factory, said: “It’s great to see the Basildon development occupied on a long-term basis.

“The scheme is the largest to have been delivered in Basildon for more than ten years, and I’m delighted to welcome Swan as a Panattoni customer.”

Matthew Byrom, managing director for Panattoni, said: “The speed at which this building was let confirms our strategy to build speculatively. We’re delighted to grow the business’s footprint in the London region and will continue to look for similar opportunities.”