Australia's largest home builder has piloted a new scheme which has seen its first houses go from slab to completion in 20 days.
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Metricon unveiled the first two completed homes in outer Melbourne but says the prototype could lead the way for quicker and cheaper builds in regional Australia.
"In locations where the supply chain for conventional construction is constrained, offsite construction can bring more homes to market faster, and that's a win for Australian home buyers," Metricon CEO Brad Duggan said.
It is one of the first times a major Australian volume home builder has tested how prefabricated construction can be successfully integrated into a mainstream volume-building model.
Fast forward
Within the first four days of building, the homes progressed from slab to beyond lock-up, becoming weatherproof with fully functioning bathrooms before moving through the final stages of completion.
The two pilot homes at Mt Atkinson Estate in Truganina were delivered through a partnership between Metricon, prefabricated construction specialiast Signex and Stockland.
The homes were constructed using prefabricated wall panels manufactured off site in a controlled factory environment, enabling greater precision, improved quality control, reduced material waste and minimised weather-related delays.
Approximately 90 per cent of each home was manufactured off site before being transported and assembled on site.
Each home, built through Metricon's Everyone Homes division, features three bedrooms, two bathrooms and open-plan living spaces designed for modern Australian families while achieving a 7-star energy rating.
Building at scale
Everyone Homes General Manager Sam Gribble said the pilot was designed to test how prefabricated construction could move beyond niche applications and become part of mainstream housing delivery.
"For a long time, pre-fabricated homes have been viewed as a niche solution," Mr Gribble said.
"What makes this project significant is that we're demonstrating how pre-fabricated construction can work within a volume-building model."
He said this method of construction was particularly suited for regional Australia.
"The opportunity is particularly compelling in regional and growth areas where labour availability can constrain housing delivery," Mr Gribble said.
"By manufacturing much of the home in a controlled environment, we're able to reduce weather impacts, improve quality control and significantly streamline on-site construction."
Housing solution
While still a pilot, the project provides valuable insights into how prefabricated construction could work on a larger scale according to CEO of Signex, Jeff Xu.
"This pilot is significant because it provides a practical foundation for delivering quality homes at scale, rather than a one-off prefabricated project," Mr Xu said.
Mr Duggan said he saw prefabricated homes complement traditional building methods and support future housing delivery across Australia.
"There is no single solution to Australia's housing challenge. It will take collaboration, investment and innovation across the entire industry. We're proud to be testing new approaches that have the potential to make a meaningful difference."
Jen Melocco
Previously she lead the editorial team for two of Australia's most read property magazines for Domain, and published within premier Nine media brands The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald.
