Built Group and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX:WES) have agreed to establish a 50:50 joint venture, Built Living, aimed at accelerating apartment construction and addressing Australia’s housing shortage through industrialised building methods.
The new entity will focus on offsite manufacturing, using Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) to produce modular and precast apartment components at scale, with the goal of delivering housing faster and at lower cost.
Render of the offsite manufacturing business.
Collaboration targets supply chain transformation
Built Living is positioned as a response to structural inefficiencies in Australia’s residential construction sector, with both partners backing a model already proven in Europe.
Built said nearly two years of global research underpinned the venture, identifying DfMA as a mature approach widely adopted in markets such as the Netherlands, Germany and Finland. In those regions, the method has demonstrated cost reductions of around 20% and delivery times up to 50% faster than traditional construction.
“We spent almost two years searching globally for solutions that genuinely work,” Built executive chairman and CEO Marco Rossi said. “Across the world’s leading apartment markets, offsite manufacturing of high-quality construction elements is delivered at scale. 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 said the partnership reflects a broader need for coordinated action to increase housing supply.
“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,” Wesfarmers Managing Director and CEO Rob Scott said. “Addressing Australia’s housing shortage will take real collaboration across industry and Government, and we are pleased to be part of a partnership that can help make a meaningful difference.”
Marco Rossi from Built and Rob Scott from Wesfarmers.
WA facility to anchor national rollout
The joint venture will launch in Western Australia, supported by a long-term land lease at the Neerabup Automation and Robotics Precinct in Perth’s north.
The planned manufacturing facility is expected to produce more than 2,000 apartments annually, creating immediate large-scale capacity for both Built Living projects and third-party developments. Part of this output will be allocated to government-backed housing initiatives and social infrastructure programs.
Construction and procurement for the facility are slated to begin in the second half of 2026, with initial production targeted for early 2028, subject to approvals.
Property developer Adrian Fini will also take an equity stake in the Neerabup facility, supporting development pipelines linked to Fini Group and Human Urban projects.
Platform for broader housing and infrastructure delivery
Beyond residential apartments, Built Living is expected to support major social infrastructure projects, including hospitals, defence facilities and correctional infrastructure.
The business will operate independently with its own board and management team, drawing representation from both partners. Former Lendlease chief operating officer Dale Connor has been appointed CEO, tasked with scaling the manufacturing platform.
Looking ahead, Built Living is targeting national expansion, with Western Australia serving as the initial base. The partners said continued collaboration with governments will be critical to scaling delivery and improving housing affordability and productivity across the country.
The joint venture remains subject to final agreements, regulatory approvals and arrangements with the Western Australian Government.