Chairman Tony Pidgley said that Berkeley鈥檚 volumetric modular construction facility in Ebbsfleet would be 鈥渁n exemplar of innovation in construction, helping address a number of challenges within our industry's supply chain around quality and skills鈥�.
He said that the machinery was due to be commissioned throughout 2020 when the first modules would be delivered to sites.聽 Berkeley has employed more than 30 staff for the factory operations, with 10 apprentices being trained to operate the machinery.
Berkeley鈥檚 move towards modular construction comes as the company鈥檚 financial performance returns to what the board calls 鈥榥ormal levels鈥�.
Berkeley Group has today posted half-year results showing merely huge profits, rather than its previous gargantuan ones of recent years.
For the six months ended 31 October 2019, Berkeley Group Holdings made a pre-tax profit of 拢276.7m on revenue of 拢930.9m.
While these numbers were down 31% and 44% respectively on last year, the board said this represent a return to normal levels.
During the half-year, Berkeley Group sold 1,389 new homes, compared to 2,027 in the same period of 2018, at an average selling price of 拢644,000 (2018: 拢740,000).
Chief executive Rob Perrins said: 聽鈥淭he reduction in profit before tax of 31.0% on the equivalent period last year was anticipated and reflects the completion of a number of Central London developments acquired in the period from 2009 to 2013.鈥�
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