Architectural practice astudio has announce that it has been granted planning permission by London Borough of Barking and Dagenham for a second off-site housing development, which will use its amodular approach that reduces the cost of modular housing while providing high-quality homes.

The development, Mellish Close in Barking, consists of one, two and three-bedroom flats and is targeted to be completed in 60 weeks rather than the 24-30-month time frame of traditional construction practices.

Richard Hyams, Co-founder and CEO of astudio, said: “We are pleased to have secured this second round of planning permission from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham for the development at Mellish Close. This is another milestone for our a modular design and build system and demonstrates there is a better way to procure affordable homes far faster and at much lower cost than traditional construction techniques. That the UK faces a housing crisis is recognised all the way up to the corridors of Westminster. As a recent cross-party Parliamentary Commission has found, we need to build 3m affordable homes over the next twenty years just to keep up with Britain’s housing needs. Given the scale of the housing crisis modular construction techniques such as ours must form part of the response of policymakers to address the UK’s housing crisis. To be given the go-ahead for a project of this scale tells us planners have begun to recognise this.”

The scheme of six units sits within the larger Sugden Way development of council flats, which is 19 units in total.

Multiple fixtures, fittings and cladding options both internally and externally are available, enabling each building to have a distinctive look and feel.

Manufacturing assembly will begin immediately and the project is expected to complete this year.