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Offsite Solutions Awarded Bathroom Pod Contract for New Grainger Build-to-rent Scheme in Milton Keynes
Offsite Solutions has been awarded a £1.6m contract to supply 327 bathroom pods for a new £64m build-to-rent development in the centre of Milton Keynes for Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord.
Developed by Peveril Securities with Mayforth and under construction by main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, Enigma Square will provide 261 purpose-designed homes for rent on a site historically occupied by the YMCA.
Designed by Pick Everard and due for completion in autumn 2022, the scheme comprises two eight-storey blocks which will accommodate a mix of studios, one and two-bedroom apartments, and three-bedroom duplexes. Facilities will include resident amenity areas, communal garden, and private balconies.
Commenting on the use of bathroom pods for this project, Wayne Catterall, Project Manager at Bowmer + Kirkland, said, “Pods are a brilliant solution, which avoids the need to distribute multiple bathroom products and materials across eight floors. The bathrooms only need to be moved once into their final position. This is far easier to manage, avoids any risk of damage, and delays to the bathroom fitout programme are highly unlikely because of the greater certainty of factory production.”
“We visited the Offsite Solutions factory as part of the design development process. Their operations are well organised, and we were able to inspect the first pod with the client, prior to starting deliveries to site, which was beneficial.”
James Stephens, Managing Director of Offsite Solutions, said, “We are delighted to be working on our first project for Grainger plc, a market leader in the private rented sector with a large portfolio, and a really impressive project pipeline. We look forward to collaborating on other projects and to a long-term business relationship.”
Fully tiled, fitted and finished in the factory, Offsite Solutions’ steel-framed bathroom and shower pods for the Enigma Square project will feature pebble grey porcelain wall tiles, and ivory ceramic floor tiles, a bespoke solid surface vanity shelf, two-door mirrored cabinet, a square wall-mounted wash hand basin, heated ladder towel rail, and a glass pivot shower screen for the bathrooms. The ensuite shower rooms have a bi-fold shower door, thermostatic shower and sliding shower head.
The pods will be craned onto each level as the building structure is erected. These operations on both blocks will be completed by summer this year.
Steel-framed bathroom pods give developers the benefit of a premium aesthetic with traditional porcelain tiling and exceptional design flexibility and detailing for large-scale residential developments for rent and market sale. The walls and floors in the wet area are fully tanked for long-term durability, and a composite ceiling panel in a matt finish provides an enhanced appearance that is also low maintenance.
Offsite Solutions offers the UK’s largest range of pods to suit many different building types and applications. Recent innovations include steel-framed utility pods for apartments or studios for build-to-rent or build-to-sell developments, and enhanced GRP pods which offer a host of design options to suit build-to-rent schemes with the additional benefits of lower capital and maintenance costs.