Work has begun on the construction of new homes for people facing homelessness in Harlow. Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group is delivering eight purpose-built SoloHaus homes in partnership with Harlow Council to help people in urgent need of a safe roof over their heads. The SoloHaus homes are delivered through the Harlow Regeneration Partnership LLP, an equal partnership between The Hill Group and Harlow Council formed to regenerate the town centre and provide much-needed new housing.
SoloHaus homes are innovative, low-cost modular homes designed specifically to support and protect vulnerable residents. They will come furnished and fully equipped ready for a single person to live in, including a fitted kitchen and white goods, providing a safe environment for residents before they find more permanent accommodation. Designed to be as energy and cost efficient as possible, SoloHaus exceeds building regulations for sound and heat insulation, meaning running costs will remain lower than traditional temporary accommodation.
Harlow Council and The Hill Group announced the launch of their regeneration partnership in June 2023, which has been hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime regeneration opportunity for the town. Their teams are working closely together to bring forward the development of a range of council-owned and other sites for regeneration and development, delivering high-quality homes and revitalising the town centre.
Andy Hill OBE, founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group commented: “We’re excited to begin work on the deployment of these SoloHaus homes, which will offer essential housing for vulnerable individuals seeking a safe and supportive environment to rebuild their lives. Our regeneration partnership with Harlow Council continues to grow as we take on new projects across the town, and we’re eager to keep working toward a brighter future for the local community.”
Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council said: “The Harlow Regeneration Partnership between Harlow Council and The Hill Group is delivering at pace to rebuild our town, and this is yet another example of the strength of that partnership.
“The Hill Group’s Foundation 200 scheme is a remarkable act of charity, providing an innovative solution to help tackle the homelessness crisis with high-quality accommodation. This scheme will also transform a former garage site which has been derelict for many years.
“We are enormously grateful to Hill for their donation as we now look to roll out SoloHaus schemes more widely across the town.”
The Hill Group, the UK’s second-largest privately-owned housebuilder, developed the SoloHaus concept and launched it five years ago, specifically as a follow-on housing solution to help address the homeless crisis. SoloHaus homes are purpose built in factories in the West Midlands by Hill’s manufacturing partner, Volumetric Modular. Each home arrives ready for installation which is quick and straightforward and comes complete with furniture, bedding and kitchen equipment such as plates and cutlery.