Overview
Double Dykes is home to a long-standing gypsy/traveller community. Over time, the existing accommodation on the site—while subject to past renovations—had deteriorated significantly, with issues such as mould, condensation, vermin infestations, and poor energy performance. In addition, the homes no longer met modern housing space standards. The Council appointed ECD Architects to lead the redevelopment in close collaboration with the community, ensuring the design aligned with their cultural values, traditions, and way of life.
Ardbeg Modular’s Role
To deliver this ambitious upgrade with minimal disruption to residents, a modular construction solution was adopted, with Ardbeg Modular brought in to lead the manufacturing and delivery. Drawing on our teams expertise in precision-engineered, off-site construction, Ardbeg Modular is playing a central role in the successful transformation of the Double Dykes community. Our modular approach is providing a high-quality, efficient, and low-impact alternative to traditional construction methods, aligning perfectly with the project's goals of speed, sustainability, and minimal disruption.
Each of the 20 new chalets are being prefabricated off-site in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, where quality control, safety, and consistency can be rigorously maintained. The homes are built in four fully finished sections, complete with fitted interiors, insulation, and integrated services. These sections are then transported to the site and assembled with remarkable speed and precision. This method drastically reduces on-site build time, minimises construction traffic and noise in the surrounding area, and ensure a consistently high standard of workmanship.
Once on-site, the final service connections, such as water, electricity, and sewage are completed swiftly, allowing the homes to be occupied almost immediately after installation. The result is a smooth, seamless transition for residents moving from outdated accommodation into modern, energy-efficient homes, with minimal disruption to daily life. Ardbeg Modular’s involvement is key in delivering this project on time, on budget, and to a standard that exceeded expectations.
Design & Site Considerations
The new chalets were carefully positioned to follow the existing site layout, limiting the need for extensive changes to services or infrastructure. To accommodate the increased size of the modern homes, two chalets were sensitively relocated to the underutilised northern section of the site.
Design inspiration was drawn from traditional gypsy/traveller architecture, particularly in the detailing of the front façades. Contrasting cladding colours and subtle variations in orientation were used to give each home a unique identity while maintaining visual cohesion throughout the estate.
