Date published: 17 July 2025
Construction has commenced on a pioneering 39-home development in South Somerset – believed to be the UK’s first social housing project built using the innovative WholeHouse platform.
Leading affordable housing provider Stonewater is delivering the rural scheme at Shiremoor Hill, Merriott, in partnership with Galion Ltd and Travis Perkins under a design and build contract.
It marks the first time the Travis Perkins WholeHouse product will be used in a development of this kind.
WholeHouse blends traditional construction techniques with off-site manufacturing processes, offering a digitally enabled platform that enhances efficiency, reduces energy consumption and cuts carbon emissions.
The approach is designed to reduce construction waste, simplify maintenance and accelerate build times.
By using standardised designs and an integrated supply chain, the platform streamlines logistics and promotes sustainability.
Supported by Travis Perkins’ national warehousing and distribution network, WholeHouse ensures consistent material availability and quality.
Homes built using this method can deliver impressive environmental benefits. On average, they achieve up to a 79 per cent reduction in customer energy bills, an 89 per cent reduction in carbon emissions, and a 22 per cent reduction in water usage compared to national household averages.
These outcomes align closely with Stonewater’s commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
The new homes will be available through a mix of Affordable Rent and Rent to Buy tenures. The development includes a variety of property types to meet local needs, featuring two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses, as well as three-bedroom bungalows.
James Bradbury, Stonewater’s Group Director of Growth & Development, said: “Shiremoor Hill marks a major step forward in how we can deliver sustainable, affordable homes in less time for rural communities.
“It offers an exciting opportunity to prove what a design-led, digitally enabled platform like WholeHouse can do for the social housing sector in terms of performance, cost certainty and long-term asset and data management.
“Last week, the National Housing Federation rightly highlighted the importance of rural housing as part of their Rural Housing Week, and we’re confident this innovative partnership will help bolster our growing rural homes plan – delivering cost and energy efficiencies for the sector, and high-quality, future-proofed homes for customers.”
Lee Jackson, Technical Director of Travis Perkins Managed Services, commented:
“This project marks an important step in bringing the benefits of WholeHouse to the social housing sector, and allows us to demonstrate how digital tools and supply chain integration can help deliver high-quality, sustainable homes more efficiently.
“Stonewater’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and quality aligns perfectly with our mission to simplify sustainable construction and improve outcomes for both housing providers and customers."
Angus Macdonald, Founder of Galion Ltd. added: "Delivering this scheme using the WholeHouse platform on behalf of Stonewater allows us to combine traditional aesthetics which rural customers prefer with modern methods, driving consistency and predictability across the build. We’re proud to be delivering a development that sets a new benchmark for affordable rural housing."
The first completions at the Shiremoor Hill development are expected in 2026.
The announcement follows Stonewater’s continued support of Rural Housing Week. As part of the week, a report, commissioned by Longleigh Foundation and joint-funded by Stonewater, was published that detailed practical solutions to address barriers to rural housing delivery.