All jobs lost as award-winning Ayrshire housebuilder collapses into administration

A housebuilder based in East Ayrshire has entered administration with all members of staff losing their jobs.

Connect Modular Ltd, which is part of the Wee House Group, based in Cumnock has collapsed with a total of 48 members of staff made redundant across the company.

The firm builds modular homes provided to housing associations, local authorities, and community trusts across the UK as part of the wider firm.

Modular construction is a method of building that involves manufacturing prefabricated modules in a factory environment before transporting them to a site to be built.

Connect Modular, alongside West of Scotland Housing Association, also submitted plans to Glasgow City Council last year for the region’s first operational net zero modular housing development.

The firm completed a £17m project in 2024 in Kilmarnock to build 101 modular low-rise, affordable houses – the largest development of its kind.

The project was delivered to Cunninghame Housing Association with the support of East Ayrshire Council and funding from the Scottish Government.

The company also had developments yet to be completed in Garnock Valley, Livingston, Penicuik and Clydebank.

Hope South West Limited, another firm under the Wee House Group, has also entered provisional liquidation with ten employees being made redundant, adding to the existing 38 jobs lost.

Michelle Elliot and Callum Carmichael of FRP Advisory were appointed as joint administrators of Connect Modular and joint provisional liquidators to Hope South West on January 7.

Administrators said the firms had made losses on a number of historic contracts and the business faced “unsustainable pressure”.

Ms Elliot said: “Connect Modular Limited and Hope South West Limited had built a strong reputation and track record in delivering high quality, affordable modular homes across Scotland.

“Unfortunately, following losses made on a number of historic contracts and rising operational costs, the businesses were facing significant cash flow pressure.

“Despite the best efforts of the director in exploring alternatives in recent weeks, the cash position deteriorated significantly placing unsustainable pressure on the business.

“We will now focus on marketing the assets for sale and on providing every possible support to the staff for claims to the Redundancy Payments Office and accessing support agencies such as PACE.”

The Wee House Group has been contacted for comment.