Ecology Building Society has launched a new range of Off-site Build mortgages specifically designed for homes built with modern methods of construction (MMC).
For the new Off-site Build products Ecology has teamed up with four leading modular manufacturers, including Agile Homes, HebHomes (main picture), nHouse Commercial and R. House, with more expected to follow.
Specialist green lender Ecology Building Society has over 40 year’s of experience in offering mortgage products that support energy efficient homes, and is the first UK lender to bring together off-site manufacturers with a dedicated mortgage solution.
Self and custom builders can choose an arrears payment product, or, for the first time, an advanced payment mortgage secured against the off-site panels while in the factory, which makes it easier for borrowers to access mortgage finance for such MMC builds. Building with modular panels offers distinct advantages around energy efficiency and sustainability, and the logic behind the introduction of the new Off-site Build products was part inspired by Government’s ambition to significantly reduce the carbon impact of housebuilding.
In addition, boosting offsite manufacturing and modern methods of construction as part of a wider strategy to increase the number of greener homes was a key recommendation in Richard Bacon MP’s Independent Review of Custom and Self-build Housing.
Gareth Griffiths, Ecology’s Chief Executive said: “Decarbonising our homes is key to meeting our net-zero ambitions. Now, more than ever, it’s important that lenders play an active role in incentivising green building and helping to reduce energy bills.
“We hope that our new mortgages will help scale-up modern methods of construction to deliver more homes built to higher energy-efficiency standards.
“The introduction of the ‘advanced payment’ mortgage option is an exciting first for Ecology, making energy efficient off-site build homes more accessible for those borrowers who may require up-front funding.
“Our innovative approach, to secure our lending, in advance, on the modular panels while they are in the factory, has the potential to be a game-changer, helping to realise the environmental benefits of off-site construction, which will be critical in the fight against climate change.”
Left: an R-House offsite home; Right: Agile Homes garden room
