News / Press
Vantage - A new concept in affordable homes
3 June 2009
New Kingspan Vantage: the UK’s first ‘off the shelf’ housing solution to provide high quality, sustainable homes at reduced costs
A revolutionary new concept is set to change the face of affordable housing.
Vantage by Kingspan Off-Site is a new range of thermally and structurally pre-configured affordable house designs. The range has been created to enable housing associations to easily and cost effectively meet the building requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Covering all common configurations, there are designs ranging from one bedroom flats to four bedroom houses and thanks to the use of Kingspan’s Modern Methods of Construction, this new Kingspan range offers cost savings and high quality standards too.
The range has been developed by Kingspan Off-Site following extensive work with housing associations throughout the UK. The Vantage collection is the first range of flexible housing platforms specifically aimed at the affordable housing sector that not only has Secured by Design and Lifetime Homes designed in, but has also been engineered to meet Levels 3 - 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Vantage launches this summer, and over the next few months, Kingspan Off-Site has plans to roll out further designs with alternative layouts. A key feature of the Vantage collection is the flexibility that has been designed into each of the platforms; this means that project architects can tailor the external appearance of the buildings to match the local vernacular, achieve the client’s brief and meet planning requirements.
”The new Vantage range of affordable house designs provides the UK’s first off the shelf sustainable housing solution for the affordable housing sector, “ said Kingspan Off-Site’s Sales and Marketing Director, Joe Martoccia.
“The launch of the Vantage range is thanks to our unrivalled expertise gained from developing the Kingspan Lighthouse, the UK’s first Code Level 6 carbon zero home, our experience in the volume affordable housing sector and over 25 years experience in developing quality house designs for the self build sector under the Potton brand.”
He added: “Vantage products will reduce the design and build programme by up to eight weeks by removing elements from the critical time path, through off-line design and by using Modern Methods of Construction. At the same time Vantage has been conceived to improve resident and client satisfaction without sacrificing quality, individuality or increasing costs.”
Design costs cut
Vantage designs will cut the amount of design work needed at the
initial planning stage yet offer the development designer the
freedom to make best use of the land, provide value and create
successful places with character, variety and identity.
Feasibility studies speeded up
Choosing a
Vantage design will enable feasibility studies to be completed
rapidly and with accurate cost information, which provides
increased certainty when negotiating land purchase, more accurate
construction costings and no expensive or unforeseen costs as a
result of non-compliance at later stages in the project.
Builds become quicker and easier
Kingspan
Off-Site is Europe’s leading timber frame manufacturer and
Vantage has at its heart the tried, tested and trusted Kingspan TEK
Building System. It is this unique system that delivers superior
levels of thermal efficiency and faster build times. As much
as 30 percent of time on-site can be saved, which means that
construction costs can be significantly reduced, new homes are
built faster and that tenants/owners can be housed sooner.
“Until Kingspan Vantage was developed it was almost
unthinkable to have speed, sustainability, quality and
affordability in the same package. This product provides the first
affordable solution for the government to meet ALL its criteria for
new homes from now through to 2016 when it will be mandatory to
build to Code level 6,” says Martoccia.
