Letters November 25: Time for a revolution in mass produced homes

ALL this fuss about “affordable homes” (The Yorkshire Post, November 21) only arises because of the prehistoric way in which we build our houses.

If cars were built in the same way, no-one would be able to afford one; a car is immeasurably more complicated than any house but motor manufacturers have been able to take advantage of the most sophisticated techniques of mass production so that a decent car is within reach of all.

Moreover the product depreciates when second-hand, because the new model is even more advanced, whereas the house has barely altered at all over the past 50 years – yet still it appreciates in value.

There is one immense difference between the two products; the house permanently occupies land. But the land could be taken out of the equation by acquiring it on lease.

Why do we still fail to address this opportunity to create a product which could be exported all over the world?

I would suggest that the 
way to make progress is for a national or international competition to be launched for the design concept of a sophisticated, mass-produced house to be marketed at a 
similar price to that of a modest motor car.