Responding to the housing emergency

The UK faces a severe housing shortage, with 130,000 households in temporary accommodation, including 73,000 of them in London alone.  

Many of these households are being placed in hotel rooms, bed and breakfast, and other unsuitable accommodation for months, even years, because there just aren’t enough homes available. Furthermore, nearly half (46%) of London’s households in temporary accommodation are stuck in out of area accommodation. 

90,000 social rent homes are needed every year over the next decade to meet demand - yet between 2022 and 2023 just 9,500 homes were built.

While local councils are doing everything they can, the financial burden is unsustainable – London boroughs are spending £114 million a month (that’s £4 million a day) on temporary accommodation.

And this isn’t just a housing issue. It’s a human issue. Living in inadequate conditions affects education, mental health, and job prospects and we know it can hold people back.

Traditional construction methods alone cannot meet this challenge.  

So Wates Residential, in partnership with Rollalong, have looked to find a solution that provides safe, warm, self-contained, and sustainable homes where people don’t just exist in temporary accommodation, but thrive.  

We believe a solution is to use modular homes which are quick to deploy and high quality. These homes can offer a dramatic improvement in living standards and quality of life compared with other options – offering private bedrooms, a family bathroom, a kitchen, comfortable living space and plenty of storage.  

Wates Residentials’ role is to be an integrator and convener – bringing together the public and private sectors to overcome the challenges and find practical solutions to the crisis. Rollalong is a supplier of the modular homes. 

We want to work with local authorities to use available land and ensure these homes are placed in the communities that need them – close to schools, jobs, and support networks.

At a time when the need for high-quality, affordable homes has never been greater, we want to develop real-world solutions that could make a lasting impact.  

High quality modular homes

This module installation by Wates Residential and Rollalong showcases how high-quality homes can be rapidly deployed to help tackle the temporary accommodation crisis.

This module was designed, developed, constructed and installed in a matter of months, not years. It is built to the same standard as permanent homes and designed to last 60+ years.  

It includes a fully fitted two-bedroom home, complete with a modern kitchen, comfortable living space, and a well-thought-out layout designed for families. High ceilings, smart storage solutions, and energy-efficient features make this home a dignified and sustainable solution for those in need.