Gateshead Innovation Village is a live research project led by housing provider Home Group which will see a range of house designs take shape on the one site.

The site will “robustly compare and contrast modern methods of construction” and improve the public image of modular homes.

The first homes are currently being manufactured in the Yorkshire factory of ilke Homes ready for delivery to the Gateshead site in just ten weeks’ time.

The project is also being backed by Homes England and development partner ENGIE.

Joy Whinnerah, Head of Delivery, Home Group said: “We’re all incredibly excited about this project as it will see a wide range of homes and construction methods being tried and tested together on the one site.

“Not only that, but we are really keen to understand what our customers like and don’t like about living in these types of homes.

“So we will be monitoring a range of aspects to check how these homes perform for the customers who live in them.”

Bjorn Conway, CEO, ilke Homes said: “Visitors to Gateshead Innovation Village will be blown away by the high quality of our homes, which we will install in just one day.”

Andrew McIntosh, regional managing director for ENGIE, said: “Not only is this unique project creating a step change for the way in which people view modular homes, but it is allowing us the opportunity to upskill the next generation of industry trainees, apprentices and graduates on modern methods of construction.”

Neil Graham, Head of Accelerated Delivery, Yorkshire, North East and The Humber, Homes England, said: “In addition to ilke Homes, Home Group is also working with Premier Modular, Xella UK and Icarus Light Steel Framing.

“There will also be six traditionally built, semi-detached homes on site. All homes will be for affordable rent and residents will have the opportunity to trial and test a wide range of smart technology products and green energy solutions.”