The Housing White Paper cites reports that suggest through the use of modern methods of construction, homes constructed offsite could be built 30% faster than traditional build, reducing costs by 25%. Explore Offsite Housing conference and exhibition will discuss how offsite manufacturing and construction can assist in meeting the UK housing shortage.
Declaring the housing market as ‘broken’ the government announced its pledge to invest in the offsite construction industry. The Housing White Paper sets out government’s intentions to resolve the housing crisis through a series of measures with releasing more land, making planning more accessible and increasing productivity being the main solutions.
Accelerating construction and increasing productivity through supporting offsite manufacturing techniques is a key objective that will act as a catalyst for change in the wider housing market.
Through maximising the use of offsite technology, partnering with small and medium-sized builders and building out on surplus public sector land — government claims that contractors in the housebuilding sector will be able to build more quality homes at a rapid rate.
The white paper recognised that the housebuilding sector is less productive than the wider industry due to its slow approach to modernisation and lack of utilising efficient and faster ways of building. Reports cited within the paper suggest that through the use of modern methods of construction, homes constructed offsite can be built 30% faster than traditional build whilst also reducing the cost by 25%.
Throughout the report there was acknowledgement of the potential that the offsite industry has to expand — the sector is quick to respond and can add capacity at a relatively rapid rate to meet demand. At present, due to a lack of demand from housebuilders, large offsite manufacturing and installation firms tend to focus on developing hotels, student accommodation and schools.
The Government are proposing they will stimulate growth through their Accelerated Construction programme and the Home Builders’ Fund — creating new opportunities for the use of modern methods of construction to encourage investors into the sector and give current suppliers confidence to expand into the housing market. It will also support the delivery of high quality, energy-efficient homes through these programmes.
This will be further supported through a joint working group with lenders, valuers and industry professionals to ensure that mortgages are readily available across a range of tested methods of construction. This will include encouraging industry and lenders to develop a stronger set of core data to measure the use and performance of different offsite technologies.
With the Government’s clear backing of the offsite sector, and the significant demonstration of innovation in recent years, it is evident that it has the potential to play a major role within the future of the housing industry.
Explore Offsite Housing will present innovative thinking by assembling some of the industry’s ‘thought leaders’ to give their views on how offsite manufacturing and construction can assist in meeting the UK housing shortage. Speakers already confirmed include: John Skivington, Director, LHC; Andy von Bradsky, Director, von Bradsky Enterprises; Jenny Burridge, Head of Structural Engineering, Concrete Centre; Rory Bergin, Partner, Sustainable Futures, HTA Design LLP; Ben Derbyshire, President, RIBA; and Robert Colver, Managing Director, SIG Offsite.
The two-day conference and exhibition, taking place on the 4th and 5th April at the Inmarsat, London, will create a platform for housing providers, housebuilders and their professional advisers, contractors and project managers to network with industry experts and discuss the latest offsite construction solutions. The event format provides a dynamic and interactive learning experience for all visitors through presentations and the wide array of exhibitors.
