EP advertises £60k house competition

English Partnerships (EP) has advertised the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's £60,000 house competition in the OJEU. Interested parties have until 13 May to express an interest.

The document says: "The competition aims to stimulate fresh thinking that will help the industry with its research and development, and promote the integration of efficient construction methods into housing development in a way that will encourage others to follow."

The competition will provide up to 1,000 homes. The number of demonstration projects, their location and the number of developers/construction techniques have yet to be decided. However, the document does reveal that EP expects to name more than one winner and that works will take place in the East Midlands, East, Yorkshire & HUmber and the South East.

A minimum of 30% of the housing units in the competition will be built to a target cost of £60,000, "with the remaining units being built to equivalent cost-efficiency standards".

Bidders will be asked to identify how they will develop improved process models that can deliver more effective development and construction methodologies. They will also need to demonstrate how they would replicate the processes on other housing projects.

A minimum of six and a maximum of 12 bidders will be invited to tender in July