Built Group (Built) today has agreed to enter a 50:50 joint venture with Wesfarmers to establish Built Living, a new Australian offsite manufacturing business designed to deliver apartments faster, at a lower cost and at industrial scale.
Built Living aims to transform Australia’s residential construction supply chain and accelerate housing delivery by using Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) of high quality modular and precast apartment components, applying advanced manufacturing.
Built Living is the result of nearly two years of dedicated global research by Built to identify scalable solutions to Australia’s housing challenge. That research confirms DfMA is a mature, proven approach in leading markets including the Netherlands, Germany and Finland, where it is embedded in apartment delivery to achieve materially better outcomes. Overseas models demonstrate 20 per cent lower costs and up to 50 per cent faster delivery than traditional construction.
“We spent almost two years searching globally for solutions that genuinely work,” said Marco Rossi, Executive Chairman and CEO, Built. “Across the world’s leading apartment markets, offsite manufacturing of high-quality construction elements is delivered at scale. Built Living brings this best practice to Australia, strengthened by Built’s AI enabled digital product capability, on which we have spent $100 million in development. Western Australia is the ideal launch point for our national platform.”
“Australia urgently needs more housing, and the Built Living joint venture is well positioned to address that using internationally proven construction models, delivering high quality properties,” said Wesfarmers Managing Director and CEO Rob Scott. “Addressing Australia’s housing shortage will take real collaboration across industry and Government, and we are pleased to be part of a partnership that can help make a meaningful difference.”
Western Australia launch and Neerabup manufacturing facility
The Western Australian Government is supporting Built Living through a long-term land lease at the Neerabup Automation and Robotics Precinct in the north of Perth.
The Neerabup facility will have capacity to produce more than 2,000 apartments per year, providing immediate industrial scale capability to support Built Living’s residential pipeline and third-party developments. A portion of annual capacity will be reserved for government-backed housing projects and the State’s significant social infrastructure project pipeline.
Support and investment
The Neerabup facility will form the foundation of Built Living’s national platform, with capacity to also support Western Australia’s major social infrastructure pipeline, including hospitals and health facilities and prisons and defence.
Construction and procurement of specialised manufacturing equipment is forecast to commence in the second half of 2026 and first manufacturing output targeted for early 2028, subject to approvals.
As part of the Western Australia launch, leading property developer Adrian Fini will take a direct equity interest in the Neerabup facility, supporting long-term pipeline certainty and the delivery of Fini Group and Human Urban developments.
Leadership and governance
Built Living will operate as a standalone business with its own Board and management team, with representation from both Built and Wesfarmers.
Dale Connor has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Built Living. Dale is former Chief Operating Officer of Lendlease for 37 years. Mr Connor will lead the establishment and scaling of the manufacturing platform, drawing on extensive experience delivering large-scale residential and social infrastructure projects.
Built Living will develop its own projects and work in partnership with major landowners and governments, including supporting social and affordable housing pipelines.
Future outlook
Built Living has a long-term national growth platform, with Western Australia providing a strong base for expansion into other States. Ongoing collaboration with Governments will support the scaling of industrialised housing delivery and materially improve housing supply, affordability and productivity across Australia.
Note
The establishment and implementation of the joint venture is subject to execution of binding documentation, obtaining any necessary approvals and the finalisation of arrangements with the Western Australian Government.
About Built
Built is a national contractor and property developer, delivering certainty at scale to take Australia forward. With $3bn+ in annual revenue and $7.5bn of work in hand, Built is a 100% Australian owned, digital-first business, committed to leading the industry in new ways.
To find out more visit www.built.com.au
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