The housing association is aiming to build around 1,500 homes a year, of which around 10% are targeted to be delivered using modern methods of construction approaches.

Laing O’Rourke, Mears, Powys-based F1 Modular and modular homes specialist Mar City have won places on the new offsite production framework.

It could prove a significant deal for Laing O’Rourke, which is planing to build a factory to accelerate the use of pre-assembly systems in house building.

Once built the dedicated  housing modular assembly factory next to Laing O’Rourke’s Explore Industrial Park factory in Steetley will be capable of delivering 10,000 new homes a year.

The contractor believes it will be able to deliver quality homes a third cheaper in half the time, with a 50% saving in emissions while also closing the import export gap.