Housing development constructed by robot takes shape
Pictures show how a County Durham housing development constructed by a cutting-edge robot is taking shape.
Phase one will see seven luxury four-bedroom detached homes at the site in Thornley, which are expected to be finished by the end of the year.
They are available to purchase off-plan by premium housebuilder JT Lifestyle Homes.
Dr Jan Telensky, owner and founder of JT Lifestyle Homes, said: “This groundbreaking development has been extremely exciting for us.
“It is the first time the wall-laying terra-based robot - nicknamed ‘Walter’ - has been brought to the UK and we are so impressed by how it has performed.
“There is currently a severe shortage of bricklayers and so we have had to find a new way of keeping up with the demand for affordable homes.”
The technology will be showcased in live demonstrations at the Homes UK and Unlock Net Zero exhibition at Excel London on November 25 and 26.
Walter’s role in Thornley was to lay the internal blockwork skin of the homes - in under half the time of a traditional bricklaying team, making the build faster, smarter and more affordable.
The external facade was then finished by teams on site.
According to the Office for National Statistics there are currently more than 35,000 job vacancies in the construction industry - the highest rate in any sector.
Dr Telensky continued: “The construction industry has an ageing workforce, with an average age of 46, and unfortunately not enough young people are looking for trade jobs.
“The government has ambitious plans for growth and housing and we simply don’t have the manpower that’s needed.
“Robot Walter’s cutting-edge technology has the potential to ease the burden and also create new, highly-skilled jobs for operators who will still be needed to oversee projects.
“As well as building faster, intelligent monitoring means Robot Walter’s bricks are laid with ultimate precision which will enhance the overall build quality.”
JT Lifestyle Homes specialise in smart, affordable homes and commercial spaces of the future, with an emphasis on addressing housing needs with an innovative rent-to-buy scheme, available on many of their developments.
To find out more visit jtlh.co.uk/rent-to-buy/