Blog

Could Ikea flat pack homes be the answer to the housing crisis?

New homes could soon be built in the south of England by none other than flat pack furniture giant, Ikea.

The news comes as Worthing Council are said to be considering a deal with BoKlok, which is owned by Ikea and Skanska, the fifth largest construction company in the world according to Construction Global magazine.

The plans could see up to 162 new factory-built homes in the large seaside town, where the average house price is currently 11 times the average salary, compared to eight times nationally.

It is thought that the homes would be used for social housing in areas where there is currently a shortage, along with high house price inflation.

BoKlok have already built 11,000 homes in Finland, Norway and Sweden, and their website says what drives them is to provide ‘sustainable, quality homes at a low price for all’.

But the idea is not a new one. Ikea and Skanska joined forced back in the early 90s, with the first project completed in 1997. Since then, they have continued to build on average 1,200 homes per year.

With a large focus on off-site construction, building as much as they can in the factory, BoKlok say this allows them to get to work as soon as they arrive on site.

In addition to reduced time on site, less heavy plant machinery contributes to a safer, tidier and quieter work environment, which people living close to site obviously appreciate.

Not only are BoKlok’s houses affordable for all, but they also boast a raft of environmentally-friendly credentials.

Choosing to use wood - the most climate neutral building materials available - along with recycling leftover materials, they claim that their carbon footprint is less than half of typical building projects.

But will BoKlok’s housing projects be blighted by the same quality concerns and issues that has become synonymous with Ikea furniture? 

Apparently not according to the company, who say: “It is about a high-quality off-site manufacturing process that allows us to assemble them quickly in a safe and sustainable environment, which we know that both employees and customers appreciate.

For the latest updates and news you can visit our news feed here.

Book your online demo

Complete the form below and a member of our team will be in touch to book you an online demonstration of our software.