Can digital manufacturing technology be used to help build much-needed new homes? That was the question that Aaron Moore, founder of Cornwall-based CNC Craft, approached Smartline with. How could he further develop his existing business to provide training to help people build affordable, sustainable homes using digital tools?

Here’s how Smartline worked with Aaron towards realising his plans for developing workshops where people could come and learn how to use the WikiHouse construction system for self-build and community projects in Cornwall.

The Background

CNC Craft is a small manufacturing enterprise in Cornwall, which specialises in making furniture and household objects as well as sub-contracting for other companies. For the last five years, CNC Craft has also been promoting the use of digital manufacturing technology in the community by running a monthly Maker Space. Anybody can attend these sessions for a small donation, where they’ll learn how to use a CNC Router, a laser cutter and a 3D Printer. Over 150 people have attended these sessions and many come back more than once.

Aaron also runs The Digital Training Hub. This offers more formal courses aimed at giving people a solid grounding in the use of these machines, allowing them to incorporate digital manufacturing technologies into their projects. These activities are designed to make digital manufacturing as accessible as possible.

So far, so successful. However, Aaron felt that digital manufacturing could be used by people interested in constructing self-build homes, or organisations supporting self-builders, housing associations or land trusts, to build affordable, sustainable homes, helping address Cornwall’s housing problems.

The Opportunity

Aaron’s idea was to create “Maker Homes” using the WikiHouse system (a new open-source digitally manufactured building system that makes building beautiful, zero-carbon homes easier). CNC Craft would offer a new innovative digital service, training individuals to design and build their own homes. The training programme would be new to the firm and market, with Aaron approaching Smartline for support in getting it off the ground.

How will this be used to support the affordable housing sector? As well as self-builders, Aaron’s plan was to train housing associations and land trusts in using the WikiHouse construction system, enabling them to make informed decisions about whether to use this system in their next construction project. Aaron also wanted to explore how this can really help improve people’s wellbeing in the future. He approached us for support in developing his new “Maker Homes” workshops.

How Smartline Helped

Our support was twofold: firstly, Smartline’s Knowledge Exchange diagnostic report explored the potential and possibilities, gaining an in depth understanding of Aaron’s challenges and aspirations, identifying potential collaboration with the Smartline Researchers.

Following on from this, Aaron applied for In Residence support to develop his “Maker Homes” training programme. As well as providing Aaron with the opportunity to develop a new service, the In Residence enabled him to explore different income streams and widen his network. Smartline’s contacts in Cornwall Council, Ward Williams Associates and South Yorkshire Housing Association Ltd helped Aaron further scope his ideas.

Stephen Hickman and Dr Tim Taylor from Smartline worked with Aaron to develop his pilot one-day course, from the day’s structure to tangible learning outcomes.

Dr Tim Taylor produced a report, Health and Housing for Aaron Moore (CNC Craft), after scoping out the environmental and health impacts of competitive housing options via a literature review.  The report included a brief summary of the literature presented on the impacts of housing on health, addressing the need for better solutions to the housing issues we face as a society.

The Training Course Trial 

The first one-day course, “Building Affordable, Sustainable Homes”, was held in November 2022. Five people attended: three self-builders and two members of local land bank organisations.  Aaron describes the day’s agenda:

“We looked at the different methods of modelling a house using 3D software followed by costing the project using the block database on the WikiHouse web site. I then demonstrated how to download a cutting file and generate the machine code to run the CNC Router, which would be used to cut the components for a full size block. I set up the machine to cut the first sheet required to make the block, and left it running while we had lunch.

We returned to take the pieces off the bed and assemble a complete, full-size block using previously cut components.  We cut a second block, which we fixed to the first with butterfly connection pieces.”

Four of the five participants completed evaluation forms: three were extremely positive, with one saying they would definitely use the skills they’d learned. Aaron picked up pointers about pace, content and timing for future courses. 

Watch this film to learn more about the Training Course Trial

What are the next steps?

Aaron’s next step is to work with Open Systems Lab, a not-for-profit research & development organisation. They’ll look at marketing as well as further course development, advertising future courses on a range of platforms such as the Growth Hub and Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust.

Ambos, a Falmouth-based community land trust organisation, is looking for land that can be used for a pilot building project, using the skills developed from CNC Craft training.

Dr Tim Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Environment and Public Health Economics summarises the success of Smartline’s work with Aaron:

“I have been supporting CNC Craft, working with Stephen Hickman of the Business School, to help CNC Craft look into their value proposition around the introduction of the WikiHouse idea to the Cornish context. The WikiHouse concept offers a new way of building houses that may provide improvements for people’s health and wellbeing. It also potentially reduces the environmental footprint of construction.

Cornwall is facing an energy and housing crisis and this technology may provide something of an answer to that problem. We know that providing people with good housing, which is well insulated, warm and well ventilated is critical to improving people’s health.

This technology has wide implications. It could impact on social housing, could be used by individuals designing their own homes and it could be used to personalise social housing so the tenants get what they really want. It also offers the potential for improving the building of housing in a more sustainable way.”

Find out more about CNC Craft’s future development and training courses on the Maker Homes page of their website.

Who was involved?

This Smartline project was funded by European Regional Development Funds (ERDF). Smartline’s Stephen Hickman, Emma McBurney and Dr Tim Taylor worked with Aaron Moore on the In Residence programme.