Kincaid unveils new prefab homes at Stockland Highlands, installed in just two months
Melbourne developer-builder Kincaid has launched a new generation of prefabricated terraces at Stockland’s Highlands estate, becoming one of the first Australian developers to deliver houses that can be completed in as little as two months. The project is in conjunction with Stockland and Signex,...
Melbourne developer-builder Kincaid has launched a new generation of prefabricated terraces at Stockland’s Highlands estate, becoming one of the first Australian developers to deliver houses that can be completed in as little as two months.
The project is in conjunction with Stockland and Signex, and marks one of the first major greenfield communities in Australia to use a high-tech offshore manufacturing process to complete the majority of construction before arrival on-site.
The result is an 8-Star, architecturally designed four-bedroom, three-bathroom terrace with a double garage. The five homes, which range in price from $699,000 to $749,000, sold out within three weeks. The slab pour commenced in November, and the occupancy permit is scheduled for January — a construction timeframe up to 85 per cent faster than a traditional townhouse build, which averages around 12 months.
Kincaid Director Kris Burt said the project demonstrates how prefabrication can accelerate supply and support more Australians into ownership.
“The country is on the clock to save the Australian dream of home ownership. With 1.2 million homes needed over the next four years, and the industry unable to deliver anywhere near that volume, Kincaid is stepping up. By turning a superior prefab solution that takes a quarter of the time of a traditional build, we can deliver significantly more homes within this critical timeframe,” he said.
Kincaid COO Joel Martin said the company’s design-led approach has been deliberately translated into a prefabricated panelised format.
“Our goal was to ensure these terraces look and perform like architect-led housing. We set the design intent and external architectural requirements, and worked closely with Signex as they adapted them into a prefabricated kit-of-parts system. We’ve applied the same design discipline used in our medium-density portfolio, but reimagined it through prefabrication. The response from land developers has been immediate — there is a clear appetite for well-designed homes that can be delivered faster, more sustainably, and with far greater precision.”
“You rarely see this level of architectural detail in prefab, particularly in the greenfields. These terraces are designed to achieve 8-Star NatHERS, substantially reducing operational energy consumption, while targeting aspirational Passive Haus principles, including enhanced insulation, improved airtightness and optimised solar orientation. Stockland’s commitment to ESG made Highlands the ideal place to introduce this model,” said Joel.
According to Signex, all timber used in the terraces is FSC-certified and responsibly sourced from Australia and New Zealand. Within the manufacturing facility, 98 per cent of timber offcuts are recovered and either repurposed or fully recycled, dramatically reducing material waste.
New research by Infrastructure Australia revealed the construction industry is currently facing a gap of 141,000 jobs, which is expected to more than double to 300,000 by mid-2027.
“With prefabrication, the heavy construction happens in offshore facilities using skilled trades, and our local crews focus on efficient on-site assembly. It means trades are used where they add the most value, resulting in faster delivery, higher-spec homes and significantly better sustainability outcomes. We’re seeing strong appetite from traditional trades to engage with this method, with many viewing it as a natural evolution in residential construction, and a positive step forward for the industry as we work to build smarter and faster,” Kris added.
Kincaid Director Kris Burt said the project demonstrates how prefabrication can accelerate supply and support more Australians into ownership.
“The country is on the clock to save the Australian dream of home ownership. With 1.2 million homes needed over the next four years, and the industry unable to deliver anywhere near that volume, Kincaid is stepping up. By turning a superior prefab solution that takes a quarter of the time of a traditional build, we can deliver significantly more homes within this critical timeframe,” he said.
Kincaid COO Joel Martin said the company’s design-led approach has been deliberately translated into a prefabricated panelised format.
“Our goal was to ensure these terraces look and perform like architect-led housing. We set the design intent and external architectural requirements, and worked closely with Signex as they adapted them into a prefabricated kit-of-parts system. We’ve applied the same design discipline used in our medium-density portfolio, but reimagined it through prefabrication. The response from land developers has been immediate — there is a clear appetite for well-designed homes that can be delivered faster, more sustainably, and with far greater precision.”
“You rarely see this level of architectural detail in prefab, particularly in the greenfields. These terraces are designed to achieve 8-Star NatHERS, substantially reducing operational energy consumption, while targeting aspirational Passive Haus principles, including enhanced insulation, improved airtightness and optimised solar orientation. Stockland’s commitment to ESG made Highlands the ideal place to introduce this model,” said Joel.
According to Signex, all timber used in the terraces is FSC-certified and responsibly sourced from Australia and New Zealand. Within the manufacturing facility, 98 per cent of timber offcuts are recovered and either repurposed or fully recycled, dramatically reducing material waste.
New research by Infrastructure Australia revealed the construction industry is currently facing a gap of 141,000 jobs, which is expected to more than double to 300,000 by mid-2027.
“With prefabrication, the heavy construction happens in offshore facilities using skilled trades, and our local crews focus on efficient on-site assembly. It means trades are used where they add the most value, resulting in faster delivery, higher-spec homes and significantly better sustainability outcomes. We’re seeing strong appetite from traditional trades to engage with this method, with many viewing it as a natural evolution in residential construction, and a positive step forward for the industry as we work to build smarter and faster,” Kris added.
iBuildNew Editorial Team
As the specialist voice of Australia’s largest new home building resource, the iBuildNew Editorial Team delivers deep-dive coverage into the house and land sector. From analysing new estate launches to highlighting the country’s leading home designs, we track the building journey to provide clarity for every buyer.
