The housing crisis is one of the most pressing issues the UK faces; it demands innovative solutions from both the public and the private sector.
The ambition with which the new Labour Government has grasped this agenda is welcoming, particularly with their reforms to the planning system. But to achieve this mission and deliver 1.5m new homes, we have to do something to boost the output and capacity of the housebuilding industry.
Even with a much more favourable planning policy position, the shortage in construction skills will make this a challenging target to achieve. Already this year 38% of housebuilders surveyed by the Federation of Master Builders have reported skills shortages leading to delays in completing projects.
Given the shortage we face in construction skills, Weston Homes believes that boosting the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) will be essential if we are to address the housing crisis in the UK.
British Offsite is Weston Group’s manufacturing subsidiary based in Essex, operating one of the largest automated assembly lines in Europe from our 180,000 sq ft factory. This one factory alone has the capacity to produce 7000 homes a year.
Using the latest Category 2 MMC technology, British Offsite uses advanced robotic assembly lines to create light gauge steel 2D panels, which are then assembled at pace on site.
Our panels arrive on-site with windows, doors, insulation, and fire stopping already installed. This integration of multiple components into a single panel reduces the need for various tradespeople, effectively combining the work of up to five trades into one.
Using this system, we can deliver apartments 30% faster and a single property 60% faster compared to traditional methods of construction.
Traditional building methods by comparison are slower and more labour intensive, and as we are currently facing a skills crisis in the construction sector, there are often delays and increased costs to projects as a result. We believe that greater use and support of Category 2 MMC technology in the housebuilding sector will be essential if we are to build the homes that Britain needs.
Another critical benefit of Category 2 MMC is the precision and quality it brings to construction. Factory-controlled environments allow for the production of components with exact specifications, produced in a warm and dry environment, ensuring a higher standard of quality compared to traditional methods. This precision translates to better-built homes that meet or exceed regulatory requirements for fire, thermal, and acoustic performance.
Furthermore, British Offsite’s technology is expected to exceed the requirements of the Future Homes Standard, though these are yet to be confirmed before they come into force in 2025. This will lead to better quality homes with fewer emissions and lower bills for households.
Category 2 Modern Methods of Construction present a viable solution to the UK’s housing crisis. By leveraging the speed, efficiency, and precision of MMC, we can overcome the challenges posed by skills shortages and deliver high-quality, sustainable homes at scale.
However, both Government and industry need support to scale up wider use of this innovation. The sector itself is often reluctant to move away from more traditional building models, such as brick/block and timber frame, but with more investment comes increased output.
This can come in two main forms: funding and planning. Grant funding for research into MMC and to help small companies get off the ground will help to avoid some of the pitfalls which have led pioneers in the industry to close doors prematurely. And giving weight in the planning system for developments delivered with MMC will be a win-win, supporting the sector while ensuring that more homes are delivered at pace with fewer emissions. Building for Britain will require an industrial strategy that recognises the critical importance advanced manufacturing and innovation in housebuilding. MMC is at the forefront of this transformation, offering a pathway to a more efficient, sustainable, and affordable housing market.