The truth about flat pack homes

Flat pack houses could become a reality in the UK but only if land becomes cheaper, according to an expert.

Swedish firms Ikea and Skanska have collaborated on the BoKlok flat pack homes which have been successfully trialled and are now coming to UK stores. Planning permission has already been given for 117 such homes to be built near the international stadium in Gateshead.

Paul Holmes, an adviser for the property group Firstrung, said: "The value would be in the land, not the construction.

"On that basis it will never get off the starting blocks in the UK where land is too expensive to support such experiments."

As always it is the price of the land, not the price of the unit which decides whether a self-build project is feasible.

However if you are looking for a home then you needn''t worry because there are about 700,000 empty units in the UK which may be in need of restoration or improvement.

Mr Holmes said that the current property shortage is a myth because there is plenty of housing stock.


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