click images to see a slideshow

Manchester Methodist Housing Association is one of the largest social housing providers in the UK and Modern Methods of Construction is key to their new homes building policy. Therefore having used the Panablok SIPS system on previous projects they were keen to use it again for Olivia Lodge. However the external finish to their previous schemes was render and on this occasion brick was needed to blend in with the surrounding buildings, therefore after careful consideration, Gebrik was chosen.

Speed of construction and thermal efficiency were two of the main drivers during the decision-making process and with a U-value of 0.26W/m²K achieved with a total wall thickness under 180mm, significant savings could be achieved in the foundations and heating appliances, in addition to the preliminary cost reductions as a result of the reduced build-time.

Upon completion, the project manager of MMHA, Jayne Lomas, said "We have learned a lot from this latest stage of our experimentation and we will be building on our success at Olivia Lodge. We will certainly use Gebrik and Panablok again and we look forward to working with the same team for our next scheme in Wythenshawe"

The Olivia Lodge scheme was shortlisted in the annual awards of the ‘Homes’ supplement of Building magazine in the category of ‘The Innovation Award for Building Technology’.

Please click on any of the images above to see a slideshow showing aspects of the Olivia Lodge development and a pdf detailing the whole development can be viewed/downloaded from the ‘Resource’ area on the far right.

• Client: Manchester Methodist Housing Association
• Architect: Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams
• Main Contractor: Richardson Projects Ltd
• Walling System: Panablok SIPS
• Cladding Contractor: Clancast Projects Ltd
• Insured by: Zurich New Homes Warranty