One of Australia's biggest developers has launched a groundbreaking trial to construct homes in record time, with Mirvac exploring the fast modular construction business, but there is a catch.
In Cobbitty, a booming suburb and construction corridor in southwest Sydney, a five-bedroom family home with modern interiors is standing out after being built in a factory.
"When we saw all the development that was happening, we sort of just fell in love quite quickly," new resident Marie Bartholomew said.
"We believe over the course of the next few years this will be the way in which homes are constructed," Mirvac's Stuart Penklis said.
Modules are transported by the truckload, lifted by cranes, and placed in formation, all in a day's work.
"It looks like every other home that's near here in terms of the design, in terms of the quality. But this one was put up in hours, not weeks," NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully said.
Key Advantages and Challenges
Another key advantage of this model is precision, with components cut to exact sizes in a controlled environment, reducing waste by around 60 per cent.
However, the biggest hurdle facing the modular construction method is cost. The Cobbitty home is priced at around $650,000, about 10 per cent more than a traditional build.
"Over time, we think as there's more demand for this type of construction, naturally you'll see the costs come down in this segment of the market," Penklis said.
New Legislation to Support Modular Homes
The trial comes as new legislation introduced on Wednesday aims to cut red tape and fast-track modular homes.
"Make it a much more seamless process to ensure that it's on par, equal to the traditional ways we build homes," NSW Building Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said.
