Built, Wesfarmers Launch $250m WA Modular Homes Play

It is the first time Wesfarmers has dipped its toe in the residential market.

“Built Living follows nearly two years of global research ... which identified offsite manufacturing as a mature approach widely adopted in markets such as the Netherlands, Germany and Finland,” the company said.

It said international models demonstrated cost reductions of about 20 per cent and delivery timelines up to 50 per cent faster compared to traditional construction methods.

Built executive chairman and chief executive Marco Rossi said the venture would bring proven global practices to Australia.

“Across the world’s leading apartment markets, offsite manufacturing of high-quality construction elements is delivered at scale,” he said. 

“Built Living brings this best practice to Australia, strengthened by Built’s AI-enabled digital product capability, on which we have spent $100 million in development.”

“Western Australia is the ideal launch point for our national platform.”

▲ Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott and Built executive chairman Marco Rossi.

Wesfarmers managing director and chief executive Rob Scott said the partnership would contribute to addressing Australia’s housing shortage through collaboration across industry and government.

The WA Government will support the venture through a long-term land lease at the Neerabup Automation and Robotics Precinct in Perth’s north, where a $250-million factory is planned.

That facility is expected to have capacity to produce more than 2000 apartments annually, with a portion allocated to government-backed housing and social infrastructure projects.

Construction and procurement of specialised manufacturing equipment is expected to begin in the second half of this year and the first homes are targeted for early 2028.

Property developer Adrian Fini will take an equity stake in the Neerabup facility to support pipeline certainty and delivery of projects linked to Fini Group and Human Urban.

Built Living will operate as a standalone business with its own board and management team, led by newly appointed chief executive Dale Connor.

Connor brings more than three decades of experience, including senior leadership roles at Lendlease, and will oversee the establishment and scaling of the manufacturing platform.

▲ Built Living chief executive Dale Connor and a rendering of the proposed factory near Perth.

The venture is expected to develop its own projects while partnering with governments and major landowners to support social and affordable housing pipelines.

Built Living plans to expand nationally over time, using Western Australia as a launch base for a broader industrialised housing platform.

The joint venture remains subject to final documentation, regulatory approvals and completion of arrangements with the Western Australian Government.

Wesfarmers is one of Australia’s largest diversified companies with operations spanning retail, industrials, chemicals, fertilisers, and resources.

Its best-known retail businesses include Bunnings Warehouse, Kmart, Target Australia, Officeworks and Catch. It also operates in chemicals and energy through subsidiaries such as WesCEF.

The ASX-listed company is headquartered in Perth.

Founded in 1998, Built Group is a contractor and property developer that delivers large-scale commercial, residential, and infrastructure projects across the country.

It operates as a digital-first construction business, using technology and integrated delivery methods to manage complex builds.

It was named Australia’s third biggest builder in Hubexo’s top 50 builders by the total value of projects that began construction in 2025.