Kit Houses IKEA Kit Homes

Date Published:

03/06/2008

Dubbed an IKEA town of kit homes, the first UK development using the innovative BoKlok homes is tackling the affordable, energy-efficient housing problem. But how do they stack up as an investment? Louise Matthews looks at why they may redefine prefab housing.

IKEA already furnish many UK homes, and now the Swedish company provides the kit homes themselves. But no, you don't need an Allen key and they're not really 'flatpack', rather technologically advanced prefabricated buildings

Gateshead is the site for the first UK development, by Live Smart @ Home, a wholly owned subsidiary of affordable housing group Home. It has the exclusive licence to build the Scandinavian timber-framed BoKlok homes here and Gateshead Council's decision to grant planning permission meant that construction on the houses was underway by 2007.

After the first phase of 36 BoKlok flats, St James' Village, opposite Gateshead International Stadium, plans were made for the development of a further 117 homes, including terraced houses. Negotiations have since been underway for 10 more sites from the English south coast to the north of Scotland.

BoKlok housing (pronounced Book-look), already well-established in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, is a concept developed by IKEA and Swedish house builders Skansa - energy efficient, space-saving, functional but good quality houses at an affordable price.