Newham in northern United Kingdom has hired architects to develop the first 40 of 2,000 modular homes for public housing that will be rented for 80 percent of the market rate to the private sector over the next five years. “We were looking for a design that was modern and time efficient,” said John East, director of community infrastructure at Newham. “This is the first of four pilot projects we have planned in the next two years that will enable us to get off the ground.” The borough has identified 40 sites to place the homes but intends to buy more property, according to what bdonline.co.uk tells MHProNews. The first 40 modular homes will be ready for occupancy before the end of the year.

(Image credit: Andrea Klettner/bdonline.co.uk–modular housing in England)