Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) has agreed to enter a 50:50 joint venture with Built Group to establish Built Living, a new Australian business dedicated to delivering residential apartments at scale through advanced manufacturing, with Wesfarmers initially committing up to AU$100 million of equity, according to a Tuesday Australian bourse filing.
The company said Built Living will use Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) methods, aiming to deliver apartments at about 20% lower cost and 50% faster than traditional construction, with a facility to be established in Western Australia expected to support the delivery of more than 2,000 apartments annually once completed.
Construction of the facility is expected to commence in the second half, with the Western Australian Government supporting the establishment through a long-term lease of land in the Neerabup Automation and Robotics Precinct and direct support for facility development, the filing added.
The company added that a portion of the facility's annual capacity will be used for government-backed housing projects and the state's social infrastructure pipeline, with the establishment of Built Living also expected to create growth opportunities for Wesfarmers' existing businesses, including through supply arrangements with Bunnings' trade business.
Built Living will operate as a standalone company with equal board representation for Wesfarmers and Built, once Wesfarmers has fully deployed its initial AU$100 million commitment, the company said.
The company added that the investment is not expected to have a material impact on its earnings in the current financial year.