Wesfarmers partners for affordable housing venture

Built Group and Wesfarmers have formed a 50:50 joint venture aimed at accelerating housing delivery through industrial-scale manufacturing, as Australia grapples with persistent supply shortages.

The new entity, Built Living, will focus on producing modular and precast apartment components using Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), a construction approach widely used in Europe to reduce build times and costs.

The partners said the model has potential to cut construction costs by around 20% and deliver projects up to 50% faster than traditional methods, based on international benchmarks.

Built Living will launch in Western Australia, supported by a long-term tease at the Neerabup Automation and Robotics Precinct in the north of Perth. The facility is expected to produce more than 2000 apartments annually once operational, with construction of the site slated to begin in late 2026 and first output targeted for 2028.

A portion of production capacity will be allocated to government- backed housing and social infrastructure projects, reflecting growing policy focus on affordability and supply constraints.

Built chief executive Marco Rossi said the venture draws on extensive global research into scalable housing solutions, while Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott pointed to the need for greater industry collaboration to address the national housing shortfall.

"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," Scott said.

The business will operate independently, with former Lendlease executive Dale Connor appointed chief executive to oversee its rollout an expansion.

The initiative highlights a broader shift towards prefabrication and advanced manufacturing in construction, as developers and government look for more efficient ways to deliver housing at scale.

With a national expansion strategy, Built Living is expected to partner with governments and major landholders to support both private and social housing pipelines across Australia.