Zukunftssichere, erschwingliche und nachhaltige Häuser in Schottland werden in nur einer Woche schnell aufgebaut.

In Inverness, a pioneering two-bed prototype has shown that affordable, sustainable, high-quality homes no longer require the UK’s traditional 7–10-month construction timeline. Using Modern Methods of Construction and homegrown Scottish timber, one of the most sustainable construction materials known for its renewability and ability to store carbon, MAKAR assembled this natural, energy-efficient home in just 1 week, despite snow, frost and rain. In the middle of a national housing crisis, this offsite precision-manufacturing approach offers a faster, safer, sustainable and more economical way to deliver affordable homes across the UK, including the Highlands and Islands, with far less waste and lower build costs. Based in Inverness, MAKAR has been at the forefront of sustainable construction in Scotland for over two decades. The company provides beautiful healthy homes,with very low running costs and which are net zero at the point of delivery.

MAKAR has set out to prove there is a better way to build affordable homes, one that keeps heating costs low, removes the risk of damp and mold, and uses homegrown Scottish timber. “We need to eradicate the issues of damp, high heating costs, and fuel poverty as conventional new builds continue to fail us”, said MAKAR CEO Neil Edgar, “What if we could build healthy and affordable homes that people actually want to live in? It is time Scotland built better homes that provide warmth, protect health and offer true affordability, all in one product. That sounds quite simple, but it takes decades of experience and determination to break through the business-as-usual approaches currently adopted.”

MAKAR's prototype during assembly

The affordable home solution is priced from £128,000 per unit, based on a group purchase of 12 precision-manufactured homes, each delivered and assembled to Wind and Watertight stage. This prototype will serve as a showcase for the future of social housing in Scotland, featuring innovative breathing walls that minimise the risk of damp and mould. Constructed from natural materials, the homes are designed to combat fuel poverty, with heating costs modelled at just £5–£7 perweek. Beyond their environmental and social benefits, the homes also help sustain rural jobs and local supply chains across forestry, timber processing, and construction.

The speed and precision of the build were evident on site. By 10 a.m. on Monday 17 November 2025, just 2 hours after Stoddart’s crane placed the first panel, the entire set of precision-engineered wall panels had been installed seamlessly. By Tuesday afternoon, the attic and roof panels were in place, the crane had left the site, and contractors were completing the external structure while structurally fixing the internal walls and floors. By the end of the first week, the MAKAR team had fully assembled the home to the pre–fit-out (Wind and Watertight) stage, including the installation of roof coverings, windows, doors, and roof-mounted solar PV panels.

27 key suppliers involved

27 key suppliers, including hsbcad, supported this project to help highlight the need for better affordable homes.

hsbcad was proud to be the technology supplier for their paperless precision-manufacturing. Using hsbDesign for AutoCAD®, MAKAR creates parametric 3D models that are fabrication-ready, ensuring the prototype model becomes the source of digital instruction for their offsite factory. This allows for precise assembly, reduced material waste, and minimal on-site disruption, making the construction process highly sustainable. And with hsbView, MAKAR provides real-time access to the latest shop drawings, avoiding any mistakes caused by outdated information on the shop floor and enhancing productivity. By working digitally with hsbcad, the prototype minimised waste, reducesd errors, and cut unnecessary material use, supporting the wider goal of sustainable construction.

MAKAR using paperless shop drawings with the hsbView solution in their offsite factory

About MAKAR

Based in Inverness, MAKAR has been at the forefront of sustainable construction in Scotland for over two decades. The company provides beautiful healthy homes to Wind and Watertight stage – for fit out by local trades. They are highly energy-efficient, with very low running costs and which are net zero at the point of delivery. They are delivered through precision manufacturing and utilise local natural materials and supply chains.

www.makar.co.uk

For more information about MAKAR and this protype, contact: Frances Gardner, frances@makar.co.uk, 07494018528

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hsbcad