Scottish Innovation poised to tackle housing crisis

Innovation developed in Scotland is ready to be deployed to help solve the nation's housing crisis, following the Scottish Government's new Housing Emergency Action Plan.
VASO by Eco, a company based in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, is promoting its industrialised construction method as a key solution to the housing shortage.
The company's modular build system can erect a four-bedroom house superstructure in just four days, with panels manufactured in under four hours, providing a 20-week time saving compared with traditional construction. The panels are made from recycled glass and offer superior thermal performance, fire resistance, and durability.
Eddie Black, Managing Director of Eco Group, which developed the product, said the government should "embrace homegrown innovation" to "rapidly deliver affordable and sustainable housing." He called the product a "complete game-changer" for the Scottish, UK, and worldwide construction industries.
The company states that its solution aligns with all three pillars of the government's Housing Emergency Action Plan, including rapidly rehousing families from unsuitable accommodation, supporting vulnerable communities with low-energy homes, and boosting growth and investment in housing delivery.
The Scottish Government has pledged £4.9 billion over four years to deliver 36,000 affordable homes by 2029–30. The government's plan recognises that Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are essential to accelerating housing delivery and meeting its target of increasing housing output by 10% annually.
Garry Legg, Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships at South of Scotland Enterprise, said the region is "ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently." VASO by Eco has recently commissioned a feasibility report for a brownfield site in Dumfries and Galloway, with construction planned to use its innovative system.
