Modular homes planned to ease housing crisis for Cornwall's NHS workers
The Partnership Trust is looking to commission 'ZED PODS' in Redruth
Last updated 8th Sep 2022
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) is planning to commission the build of a three-storey block of six ZED POD accommodations in Redruth.
The homes will offer a turnkey housing solution for staff for a maximum of three months, which is hoped to be sufficient time for workers to settle into the area and find long-term accommodation.
Chief Executive Debbie Richards said: "We are keen to attract people to the Trust and health and social care careers in Cornwall. One of the key pieces of feedback from our existing and new staff is the challenge of securing affordable local housing.
"I hope by providing some of our new starters with short-term accommodation, we will enable them to settle into their new role, without having to worry about where they'll live too, especially if they are new to the area.
"We are also working with Cornwall Council and Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust to make more key worker accommodation available across the county".
What are ZED PODS?
ZED PODS are award-winning, cost-effective, eco-friendly, high-quality modular homes, which are designed by their inhouse team, and are manufactured and installed much more quickly, and with less disruption compared to traditionally built conventional housing.
Most of the building works of ZED PODS homes are completed in the factory so after the groundworks are completed, the units can be delivered to the site and installed within a matter of days.
Each ZED PODS home will have two bedrooms, providing living accommodation for two people. Each bedroom has space for someone to study whilst the units have a shared open plan living, kitchen and dining areas and a bathroom. The roof of the building will be fitted with solar panels to generate electricity and all hot water demand will be provided by a solar assisted heat pump in each unit.
The Trust is also sourcing rental properties to help with the housing crisis until staff can find their own accommodation.
Lindsey Wild, a strategic property manager for CFT commented: "The Trust is pleased to be working with ZED PODS to provide accommodation for some of our key workers when they first join the Trust to help with their transition to a new area.
"The six units that are being commissioned each have two bedrooms and are constructed off-site to very high environmental standards. They are "turnkey" units, which means that they are fully fitted out and furnished upon delivery and will only require minimal additional items before staff can move in. The units are due to become operational in late autumn 2022".
Thomas Northway, Chairman of ZED PODS, said "We are extremely delighted to be working with the CFT to design and build this ground-breaking sustainable development. 'Seacole House', designed by our inhouse team, will be of very best in terms of environmental performance and internal specifications.
"This scheme demonstrates how the NHS can develop their unutilised sites to build good-quality, affordable homes for our key workers across the UK".