even 200 homes,” he says. A 600-house site currently in discussion would be unprecedented for WA. OFFSITE’s success isn’t just in volume—it’s in flexibility. The Hamilton Hill development for Development WA, with around 180 homes, demonstrates how public sector projects can move faster and cheaper with this model. Meanwhile, a luxury townhouse development on Hay Street showcases what’s possible at the high end. “These are three-storey townhouses selling at $1.8 million each. People assume off-site means cheap or ugly—not the case. These are beautiful, highly energy-efficient homes at almost half the masonry construction cost per square metre. The developer is thrilled,” Norm says. OFFSITE’s factory model also solves WA’s labour shortage in unique ways. “When we advertised for three carpenters recently, we got 190 applications,” Norm shares. Working in a factory means tradespeople avoid working at heights, are protected from the weather, stay close to home instead of FIFO, and enjoy a three-day week with four days off—all while being paid competitively. Looking ahead, OFFSITE believes the next frontier is moving toward fully-clad modules. “That means internal walls, plumbing, electrical, even kitchens and bathrooms are pre-installed,” Norm says. This will further accelerate on-site completion while reducing labour demands. “Of course, that compresses some builder margins, but the tradeoff is speed and scale. Developers love it.” The opportunity extends beyond houses. OFFSITE is currently quoting several four-storey apartment projects and is in early talks about structures up to 12 storeys—the current code limit. Norm believes that could rise further. “Overseas, people are building timber frame up to 50 or 60 storeys. It’s just a matter of the codes catching up.” Fundamentally, Norm believes the WA construction sector needs to change. “Right now, it takes twice as long and costs twice as much to build a house in WA as it should,” he says. “If you focus on one—just one of price, speed, or quality—at the expense of the others, you’ll smash that part of the industry. Our focus is quality and speed—price efficiencies follow when you achieve scale.” AUGUST 2025
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