The Fightback

The Fightback: Foundation 200 & The Haus Collection

To fulfil the ambition of Foundation 200, The Hill Group used its home building expertise to create The Haus Collection – a collection of innovative and low cost modular homes, originally designed for the homeless.

To help create these unique single person dwellings, The Hill Group took a 50% stake in a start up design and manufacturing business, Volumetric Modular Ltd, based in Shrewsbury to design and construct various MMC products.

In April 2020, at the beginning of the first UK lockdown, The Hill Group launched the Foundation 200 SoloHaus prototype via webcast to local authorities, charities, housing associations, suppliers and consultants. The response was overwhelming, with demand to purchase SoloHaus homes as well as interest in Hill’s pledge to deliver 200 homes. It was clear that there is high demand for a solution to the homelessness crisis, and SoloHaus is seen as being part of that solution.

This level of interest is inspiring Andy and everyone at The Hill Group to help as many people as possible beyond the Foundation 200 pledge, with a desire to make the SoloHaus an effective solution for local authorities and charities alike.

This is an exciting mission and we hope it creates a blueprint for the future.

Rory Lowings
Solohaus Project Manager
The Hill Group

The Solution

The Haus Collection homes are safe, welcoming spaces built to the highest standards of sustainability, efficiency, safety, and durability with a 60 year life span.

Designed with the help of leading homelessness charities and stakeholder groups, they have a considered layout, abundant natural light, and good storage. These unique retreats are specifically designed for the homeless people. They provide dignity, independence and dramatically cut the costs associated with traditional temporary accommodation: a SoloHaus home can reduce electricity bills to just £5 per week. What’s more, vulnerable people can move in right away.

  • Cheap to run – just £5 electricity / week
  • Safe and secure
  • Fully fitted kitchen
  • Low energy white goods provided
  • Insulated to be warm in winter and cool in summer
  • Card operated electric meter, to encourage budgeting
  • Integrated cabling for Broadband and TV connectivity
  • Simple to use Operation and Maintenance Manual provided with each home
  • Fully furnished living/dining area, bedroom with storage and bathroom with shower
  • Everything residents need provided, from plates and cutlery to bedding and towels
  • Composite door and windows
  • Built off site in a factory to Future Homes Standard
  • BOPAS accredited with a 60 year life span – enables grants, loans and mortgages
  • Building Control approved design
  • Constructed with A1/A2 fire rated building materials
  • Manufactured in just 20 days
  • Easy to transport, deliver and install – can be lifted off a flatbed lorry in 30 minutes onto a site
  • Designed with homeless stakeholder groups to be anti-ligature, secure and to reduce the risk of cuckooing and other antisocial behaviour
  • 24sqm internal living environment
  • Stackable to two storeys
  • Sits on six foundation pads to minimise groundworks
  • Requires only electric, water and waste connections
  • Heated via an air source heat pump (one per six homes)
  • Soil Vent Pipe and Rainwater outlet
  • Controlled flow shower mixer and dual flush cistern to minimise water consumption
  • High quality fixtures and fittings throughout
  • Factory environment assembly
  • Quality checked throughout assembly process
  • Fully tested and commissioned pre-delivery
  • Fully traceable factory inspection and test plan linked to unique serial number

Introducing SoloHaus

Every SoloHaus home is delivered fully furnished, equipped and ready to move into. With a fully fitted kitchen, low energy white goods, integrated cabling for broadband and TV connection and more, residents will have everything they need.

CGI image is indicative only. The SoloHaus will benefit from being supplied with the majority of furnishings shown.

Benefits & Features

Inside the SoloHaus Home

Every SoloHaus home is delivered fully furnished, equipped and ready to move into. Designed for single occupants, SoloHaus homes are quick to construct, and easy to transport and site.

SoloHaus interior

Introducing DuoHaus

Measuring one metre longer than the SoloHaus, the DuoHaus is designed for two people, with an internal layout that creates more space in the bedroom and kitchen/diner.

CGI image is indicative only. The DuoHaus will benefit from being supplied with the majority of furnishings shown.

Benefits & Features

Inside the DuoHaus Home

Every DuoHaus home is delivered fully furnished, equipped and ready to move into. Designed for two people, this home incorporates learning from deploying the SoloHaus homes, with a new colour palette and fitted IKEA kitchen.

Introducing FamilyHaus

The FamilyHaus joins two DuoHaus hulls together, to make a home large enough for families.

 

CGI image is indicative only. The FamilyHaus will benefit from being supplied with the majority of furnishings shown.

Benefits & Features

Inside the FamilyHaus Home

It can be arranged in a two or three bedroom configuration with each bedroom large enough for a double bed, two single beds or bunks. This modular design has the same features as DuoHaus with optional upgrades available, including a double sofa bed to the living room or solar PV rood rack for a Carbon Net Zero scheme.

How They’re Built

How these homes are built

The Haus Collection homes are built by a newly formed business called Volumetric Modular Ltd, of which The Hill Group are a 50% stakeholder. The business’s aim is to ensure that this housing solution remains affordable and accessible to as many partners as possible, whilst maintaining the build standard synonymous with Hill.

With strategically placed factories in Telford and Shrewsbury, the homes can be built and transported across the country at speed. Each home can be built in 20 working days, with a build programme on site of eight to ten weeks.

Each unit is designed with steel frames and walls using the ModulHaus technological system to provide cutting edge acoustic and thermal insulation that exceeds regulations. Each one is delivered on a single lorry and arrives ready for simple site connection and commissioning. The commissioning process includes a site installation and test plan.

 

 

Next Steps

Next Steps

The homelessness crisis is still with us, but with The Haus Collection we can provide homes to people who desperately need them.

How Foundation 200 works

  • Local Authority

    Local Authority / Housing Association partner to identify and provide land.
  • Obtaining Planning

    Obtain planning permission for SoloHaus homes on the land.
  • Factory

    Volumetric manages home beign built in factory (MMC)
  • Hill prepares land for use

    Hill prepares land for use.
  • Home delivered to site

    Home delivered to site and prepared by Hill, ready for occupation.
  • Local Charity

    Local Charity / Housing Association partner, manage tenant move in and provide ongoing support.
  • Maintenance

    Day to day repairs & maintenance.  Hill provide one year defects cover.

There is an opportunity to create a lasting and more sustainable answer to homelessness.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our modular home options and how they may be able to help homelessness in your area, please get in touch with us.

Foundation 200
SHC Partnership

For more information about SoloHaus homes

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