City architect has all the kit to build new homes for £40,000

Published on Friday 2 January 2009 09:09

AN architect is hoping to help homebuyers by offering kit homes in the Lothians for as little as £40,000.

Andrew Stoane, 40, of Newhaven, proposes to develop a housebuilding system to help tackle the shortage and affordability of housing.

But his ambitious plans have been delayed by the credit crunch and he still needs investment of between 50,000 and 100,000.

Mr Stoane had planned to have a prototype house constructed at a site in Edinburgh by autumn last year, and a pilot scheme – consisting of between 10 and 15 houses – up and running in Scotland this year, with possible sites for the pilot including West Lothian and Midlothian.

However, it is now estimated that the prototype will be built by June and the pilot scheme running by the end of 2009.

He said: "The economic conditions have definitely affected Anabo (his company], mainly in its ability to secure investment.

"Construction, and particularly housing, have been hit hard and there's an understandable tendency in the investment community to shy away from these industries.

"However, Anabo is not a conventional house builder. Its creation is, in part, a direct result of the current crisis – it is set up to tackle it head-on and to perform well during it.

"The timing could not be more opportune, but maybe it takes a special type of investor to see that."

The company will buy plots, obtain planning permission, lay building foundations and construct houses from pre-fabricated components.

Customers would then visit Anabo's website to find a location, order their house, configure it to their own requirements and arrange the finance. Within ten days, the house should be ready for occupation.

The total cost of a home will be 1000 per square metre.

Mr Stoane will offer a range of designs, including a 40 square metre pod for 40,000 aimed at first-time buyers, and a 120 square metre family home for 120,000.

The planning application for the prototype, which would be situated at Edinburgh University's Kings Buildings Campus – Mr Stoane teaches architecture at the university – is currently being considered by the city council.

"I don't anticipate any problems because it falls within something that local authorities are being encouraged to look at – affordable housing," said Mr Stoane.

"The site is in the middle of a university campus within which there is a lot of experimental work going on, so it hopefully shouldn't be contentious."

He added: "Quite possibly the prototype could be looked at by architecture students but in the main, it would be used as a showhome and thereafter the university would take ownership of it."

Mr Stoane aims to have a full production facility – a factory where the houses can be built – and a production website, from which buyers will be able to order houses, by 2010.

He said: "The prototype will be used to test all the construction and technologies that are involved in the whole concept to make sure everything works."