Scottish homebuilder Makar is redefining how affordable housing can be built – using Scotland’s own timber to create net zero, low-cost homes that are healthier for both people and the planet.
As the Scottish Government faces the challenge of delivering 15,000 social homes each year, Makar’s latest prototype demonstrates how homegrown design and manufacturing could transform the way communities meet that goal.
“We’re in the middle of a nation-wide housing emergency. We need more homes, but they need to be better homes,” says Makar CEO Neil Edgar. “With this prototype home we’re demonstrating a unique and, frankly, blindingly obvious solution – using Scotland’s timber resource to build high-quality homegrown homes with running costs of around £5 per week. They can be rapidly assembled anywhere in the country.”
Building Better with Scotland’s Timber
Unlike most new builds that rely on concrete, imported materials and treated timber, Makar’s design avoids harmful chemicals and high-carbon components. Its natural, breathable timber panels create healthier indoor environments free from damp and mould, while also reducing the home’s environmental impact.
The prototype home, supported by 25 Scottish suppliers, will be assembled in just two weeks outside Makar’s Inverness workshop. Every part of the process – from precision manufacturing to final assembly – is designed to reduce waste, cost and carbon emissions.
Key features include:
- Net Zero performance with very low energy use
- Two-week assembly to wind and watertight stage
- Heating bills as low as £5 per week
- Local supply chains and low carbon miles
- Toxin-free, timber-rich materials
“We’re trying to reverse the very real problem of low-quality homes built from a business-as-usual approach in a time of crisis,” Edgar adds.
Proven Design for Rural and Island Communities
Makar’s approach is already attracting attention from rural communities struggling to deliver affordable homes on time and within budget. The Lismore Community Trust, which commissioned two affordable Makar homes, praised the company’s off-site construction model for its reliability and value.
“Especially in remote rural areas, keeping to time frames and budget is the biggest challenge for community projects,” says Julia Behrendt, Sustainable Building Consultant for the Trust. “The off-site manufacturing process ensures these buildings perform as designed and offer truly comfortable and functional homes.”
She adds that the homes’ practical layouts and durable materials make them ideal for island living – supporting local families and helping sustain community life, schools and services.
“The whole industry is talking about doing affordable housing at scale, speed and quality – Makar are on site and building them as we still discuss the challenges,” Behrendt notes.
Local Materials, Low Carbon Supply Chains
The prototype showcases what can be achieved when local suppliers work together to prioritise low-carbon materials. Makar uses Scottish Sitka Spruce for its structures, West Fraser OSB from Inverness, and untreated larch cladding milled at Logie Timber near Forres.
“Using local suppliers and materials has been key to Makar’s success so far,” says Scott Reid, the company’s Business Development and Design Lead. “Many companies have donated materials and time to demonstrate the potential of this approach.”
The homes’ “breathing” timber fabric is paired with natural Warmcel insulation and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems, helping to eliminate mould and cut energy use. Early modelling shows heating costs could be as little as £5 per week – a breakthrough for tackling fuel poverty.
Affordable, Scalable, and Carbon Negative
Each two-bedroom Makar terrace home spans around 93 square metres, designed for family living and future adaptability. Built to Wind and Watertight stage for around £128,000 per unit (in groups of 12), these homes are intended to be scalable across Scotland’s towns, islands and rural areas.
A study by the University of East Anglia found that Makar terrace homes are carbon negative, locking in up to 39 tonnes of CO₂ at the point of delivery – a rare achievement in modern construction.
Based in Inverness, Makar has been at the forefront of timber Passivhaus design for over two decades. Now, with its pivot to affordable modular homes, the company is showing how Scotland’s natural resources can be harnessed to meet housing demand – sustainably, locally, and affordably.
“We’ve shown that standardisation doesn’t have to mean compromise,” Edgar concludes. “It’s about creating homes that are good for people, good for communities, and good for Scotland.”
Article based on a press release by Makar Ltd.
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