Industry News

The construction world is ever-changing, with new technologies and digital developments happening all the time. In such a fast-paced industry, keeping up with news and announcements can be difficult. 

Here on the Offsite Hub, we are dedicated to keeping you updated with the most informative and topical stories in the construction industry but with a particular focus on modern methods of construction and offsite construction techniques. We select the most relevant stories for you to stay up to date with the world of light steel frame, volumetric modular technology, structural timber precast concrete hybrid solutions and MEP innovations. 

Please see below stories which are from a range of sources and are focused articles and press releases on the most dynamic developments in the offsite industry including official pieces from our own Offsite Magazine and full coverage of the offsite awards winners.



STA takes the timber debate to the Houses of Parliament

9th February 2016

The Structural Timber Association (STA) hosted a roundtable discussion at The Houses of Parliament on the future of housebuilding and in particular, the potential of structural timber and offsite construction building methods. Attended by industry...

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Offsite build framework launched for affordable housing

8th February 2016

Central Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC) and Efficiency East Midlands (EEM) have launched their off-site manufacture (OSM) framework for affordable housing to their 85 members. CHIC and EEM have appointed Modular Space to provide...

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BBC to tackle housing crisis with ‘Million Homes Challenge’ Offsite Showcase

6th February 2016

The BBC is seeking four offsite housing manufacturers to showcase their products on a site in Manchester, for a three-part BBC 2 series looking at how housing production can be stepped up to address the current shortfall. The producers are currently...

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BSRIA welcomes construction labour review

4th February 2016

BSRIA has welcomed a major construction labour review announced by the Government. Housing minister Brandon Lewis and construction and skills minister Nick Boles are understood to have signed off on the Construction Labour Model review,...

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JCT 2016 Edition – New Features announced

4th February 2016

JCT Chair, Richard Saxon CBE, has provided an update on the forthcoming JCT 2016 Edition of contracts, summarising the main new features, in a presentation to delegates at the Olswang Annual Construction Conference on Thursday 4th February....

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Offsite: The building built by Ghurkas

3rd February 2016

Eight ex-Gurkhas unskilled in construction built a defect-free pharmaceuticals facility from components delivered in shipping containers. Does GSK's factory in Box show the way forward for construction? Elaine Knutt reports. In an...

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Foreman's starts work on 5th project for Hampshire County Council - a much needed Youth Centre in Romsey

2nd February 2016

Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, part of the Portakabin Group and the UK’s largest supplier of refurbished Portakabin buildings, has started work on a contract worth in the region of £500,000 to construct a much-needed Youth Centre in the...

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TRADA ready to champion timber again at Ecobuild

1st February 2016

TRADA will again be exhibiting at Ecobuild in 2016 with an impressive stand dubbed the TRADA Timber Interactive Learning Zone. The leading authority on timber is again expecting a busy show, not least because of the launch of its...

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Bayliss to head efficiency drive at Skanska

28th January 2016

Roger Bayliss is taking on a new position at Skanska to drive improved efficiency across its worldwide operations. Bayliss will move from his current position next month as Executive Vice President, Skanska UK, to the post of Senior...

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Legal & General to build and rent out 3,000 new UK homes

27th January 2016

Insurance and pensions firm will be landlord of thousands of flats, starting in Bristol, Salford and London, in partnership with Dutch PGGM British insurer Legal & General has teamed up with a Dutch pension fund manager to construct...

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Structherm owner announces name change to Forterra

26th January 2016

Hanson Building Products, of which external wall insulation experts Structherm were a division of, has changed its company name to Forterra, following a recent divestment by former owners HeidelbergCement. The rebranding brings a fresh...

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Y:Cube affordable homes to transform UK housing?

25th January 2016

YMCA is the world’s oldest and largest youth charity. The Y:Cube has been created by YMCA London South West in partnership with architecture practice Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, project manager Aecom, and UK contractor SIG Plc Building...

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Portakabin delivers complete interim primary school in just 14 weeks to the amazement of parents

25th January 2016

Portakabin, the UK’s leading supplier of interim modular buildings, has successfully constructed and handed over a complete new 300-pupil interim primary school in Devon in less than four months. Working in partnership with architects and project...

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The New Construction Future

23rd January 2016

Is offsite construction the answer to the delivery challenge faced by the UK Construction Industry? A recent debate hosted by The Fabric First Academy posed this question to a panel of industry experts…  With turnover predicted...

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Britain needs an industrial house-building revolution to tackle housing market failure

22nd January 2016

The world is moving from uncertainty to instability. Economic, political and social “flashpoints” include the United States, EU, China, North Korea and the Middle East. While the UK has sensible economic goals – 2.5 per cent growth, 2 per...

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Timber Frame & Rigid Insulation

21st January 2016

Chris Hall, Chief Executive at the British Rigid Urethane Foam Manufacturer’s Association (BRUFMA), describes how stringent legislation and government advice on insulation requirements has affected the creation of an airtight and thermally...

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Timber Trade Bodies Raise Sector Profile

20th January 2016

A major new agreement between the UK’s two largest trade bodies for manufactured timber was signed at Timber Expo, during UK Construction Week 2015. The new strategy is set to boost the wider success of the timber products sector. The British...

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YMCA plans to roll out Rogers’ £50k affordable Y:Cube flats to seven more sites

19th January 2016

A joint venture made up of the YMCA and award-winning architects Rogers, Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) is proposing five new Y:Cube schemes, on sites in Essex, south-west London and on the south coast of England, with two more sites expected to...

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High Performance Building not ‘Back of Envelope’

18th January 2016

Following government calls for faster delivery, lower costs and increased sustainability from the construction industry, timber and offsite construction are perfectly placed to meet expanding housing demand. Ian Loughnane, Business Unit Director for...

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Build UK Prioritises Payment Issues

14th January 2016

Build UK was launched on 1 September 2015 following the merger of UK Contractors Group (UKCG) and the National Specialist Contractors’ Council (NSCC) and it has prioritised a number of long-standing industry issues such as fair payment to...

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Robertson secures school timber contracts worth £2.4m

14th January 2016

Robertson Timber Engineering has won a series of contracts worth around £2.4 million for six under-construction schools. The company will provide timber frame solutions at Bilston Glen and Southdale School in Midlothian, Kilpatrick School in...

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Canada Goes Big

13th January 2016

The heights that solid timber construction is reaching grow each year.  A new development at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada is set to amongst the world’s tallest. When complete in 2017, the $51.5-million,...

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Wales plays host to its first Passivhaus school

13th January 2016

The children of Burry Port town in Llanelli reached the end of the first-term in their new school; the first Passivhaus school development to be built in Wales.  The pioneering Passivhaus scheme, conceived by Carmarthenshire...

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Kingframe brings new vitality to Bury development

12th January 2016

The Rock, a landmark development in Bury, has used the Kingframe SFS extensively to provide the highly detailed external finish to all blocks. The £350 million development brings new vitality back to a run-down area of Bury town centre thanks to...

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UK's first prefabricated college building to go up in nine months

12th January 2016

Portakabin, the UK-based maker of site accommodation, has been awarded a $20m contract to design and build the UK’s first university technical college (UTC). “This is a hugely significant project for the construction sector”–...

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Celebrate the best in the world’s oldest & most innovative material

12th January 2016

Following the success of the 2015 Structural Timber Awards, the prestigious event is returning for another year, promising to remain the high point in the 2016 timber calendar. The Awards, considered to be one of the most effective platforms...

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Explore Offsite in the Housing Sector returns for 2016

12th January 2016

The nation’s media have been reporting on a UK housing crisis for many months. George Osborne’s Autumn Statement promised to deliver 400,000 homes by 2020 and the industry needs to change to meet this deadline.  It is...

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World's tallest timber tower

4th January 2016

Made possible by a special change in law, a building that is set to claim the title of world's tallest timber tower is now under construction in Vancouver, Canada. When complete in 2017, the 18-storey (53m) tower, called Brock Commons, will house...

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The first Passivhaus school development to be built in Wales

22nd December 2015

The children of Burry Port town in Llanelli have reached the end of the first-term in their new school; the first Passivhaus school development to be built in Wales. The pioneering scheme, conceived by Carmarthenshire County Council and...

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Nine firms win LHC £1.5bn whole house framework

20th December 2015

Procurement consortium LHC has picked 9 firms to deliver turnkey housing projects using offsite construction. The pretendered framework could be worth up to £1.5bn over four years, according to the national procurement specialist. A lion’s...

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SIP Suitability

18th December 2015

With an increasing drive to ensure homes are as efficient as possible – particularly where heating, cooling and ventilation is concerned – it is important to carefully consider the various housebuilding options available. Andrew Carpenter,...

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York’s Portakabin Group starts work on £44m off-site scheme in London

17th December 2015

The York-based Portakabin Group has commenced work to construct the UK’s largest off-site scheme in the education sector. The £44m contract for the Riverside Schools project was awarded by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham...

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New Products Showcased at the RCI 2016 Show

16th December 2015

At the forefront of industry research and development, RCM are constantly striving to innovate and develop their range of building boards and facades. Finding the latest technology is an ethos which lies at the very heart of RCM business and one...

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Building for Mental Health Facilities

16th December 2015

Thought Leadership – Ian Loughnane When it comes to specifying materials for the construction of mental health facilities, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration. The design of the building is...

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Mabey Bridge shortlisted for highly prestigious awards

16th December 2015

Mabey Bridge is pleased to announce that it has been shortlisted for three highly prestigious awards by British Expertise International. The role of British Expertise International is to help its members win and successfully complete business...

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Timber facility makes its mark

15th December 2015

Buildings have been constructed in timber since the dawn of time, but none have been quite as striking as Leeds Recycling and Energy Facility. Scheduled for completion in summer 2016, the Energy from Waste facility is a prime example of the...

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Building for Mental Health Facilities - Thought Leadership from Kingspan Timber Solutions

15th December 2015

Thought Leadership – Ian Loughnane When it comes to specifying materials for the construction of mental health facilities, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration. The design of the building is critical to...

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CLT – Reaching New Horizons

9th December 2015

The use of cross laminated timber (CLT) in medium rise applications is becoming increasingly prominent across the global built environment. This innovative and sustainable product has presented fierce competition to the steel and concrete...

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CLT Reaching New Heights – again!

9th December 2015

The latest new residential construction project in London using cross-laminated timber (CLT) will be the tallest residential CLT building in the world when complete. More than 3,500m3 of timber has started to arrive on site in Dalston...

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HS2 contractors urged to share designers and manufacturing facilities

8th December 2015

Design teams and offsite manufacturing plants could be shared by several contractors for work on High Speed 2, a project boss has predicted. Chris Dulake, engineering director at project promoter HS2 Ltd, said he would like to see the...

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Precaster FP McCann acquires Buchan Concrete

7th December 2015

FP McCann has further strengthened its precast concrete arm with the acquisition of Buchan Concrete Products. Buchan is known for its range of concrete products, which are utilised on large-scale civil engineering projects and building schemes...

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Timber frame heading for 27% new housing market share

5th December 2015

Timber frame is expected to account for 27% of new housing by 2017, according to a new report. The Timber Trends report, published by the Structural Timber Association (STA), analyses the market growth of timber frame housing from 2013...

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Timber Cladding & Durability

5th December 2015

Timber has the ability to soften and accentuate buildings and landscapes like no other material and offers a winning combination of versatility, economy and environmental credentials to any building project. Janet Sycamore from the Timber Decking...

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Celebrating Success at the Offsite Construction Awards

2nd December 2015

The Offsite Construction Awards were declared a huge success by over 170 entrants, judges and guests in attendance. Held at the Inmarsat Conference Centre, London, on 01 December 2015, the Awards commended the best of the sector and recognised...

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New facility receives the TEK treatment

2nd December 2015

The 5 Boroughs Partnership - an organisation that provides specialist mental health and learning disability services to the residents of Wigan - launched plans for a new development of a £40m mental health facility, designed to accommodate up to...

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EOS Facades scoop Best Use of Steel Award!

2nd December 2015

At the forefront of the light steel frame sector – EOS Facades was announced the winner of the ‘Best Use of Steel’ category at the inaugural Offsite Construction Awards held on Tuesday 01 December at the Inmarsat Centre, London. ...

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X-LAM Alliance, Hawkins/Brown and Engenuiti Crowned Winner of Winners at the Offsite Construction Awards

2nd December 2015

Last night’s Offsite Construction Awards proved to be a huge success for the X-LAM Alliance, where they – along with development partners Hawkins/Brown and Engenuiti – were announced ‘Winner of Winners’ for their record breaking timber...

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Portakabin bags £28m off-site south east schools deal

1st December 2015

Portakabin Group has been named preferred bidder to help deliver seven infant and primary school projects in Surrey and Kent. The contracts for the Department for Education will be worth in the region of £28m and will be constructed...

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NSTS: timber’s new framework

30th November 2015

The long-awaited new National Structural Timber Specification (NSTS) document has now been published. The NSTS marks a significant step forward for the timber industry in levelling the playing field against competing materials such as steel and...

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Portakabin Group announced as preferred bidder for £28 million of school contracts in Surrey and Kent

30th November 2015

The Portakabin Group has been announced as preferred bidder for seven infant and primary school projects in Surrey and Kent.  The contracts for the Department for Education will be worth in the region of £28 million. The projects will be...

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Engineered Solution with a Certified Performance Designed to Overcome Skills Shortages and Meet Building Regulations

27th November 2015

As widely reported, the recession caused a vast fall in the demand for bricks, resulting in many kilns ceasing to manufacture and bricklayers having to find alternative employment. As the industry emerged from the downturn, in 2014, it became...

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Offsite construction sector learn benefits of collaboration

18th November 2015

Tom Nutland from UKCES demonstrates how learning from experience and collaboration is making a difference to the offsite construction industry who have spearheaded the UK Futures Programme I once heard a classic story - no doubt untrue - about an...

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Offsite construction and collaboration can deliver a step-change

18th November 2015

Whether referred to as ‘design for manufacture and assembly’, ‘offsite construction’ or ‘industrialised building systems’, these methods are possible panaceas addressing safety, productivity, quality, cost certainty and sustainability....

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AVS Announced Finalists in the Offsite Awards

18th November 2015

Launched in 2015, the team behind the BBA Approved Alumasc Ventilated System (AVS) are pleased to announce that this fully engineered facade system has reached the final of the Offsite Construction Awards. As a leading UK based...

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Masters of Material

18th November 2015

TRADA have recently published a series of documents including, ‘Cross Laminated Timber: An Introduction’. Intended for architects, building designers and their clients, this document highlights and summarises the nature, benefits and potential...

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Sustainability - the Most Essential Component

18th November 2015

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have launched the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Programme under its Ten-Year Framework of Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP). The strategy has been created with the objective to...

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New Ventilated Facade Solution Designed For Structural Timber Applications

16th November 2015

At the forefront of industry research and development, leading UK based manufacturer – Alumasc Facade Systems has developed an advanced facade solution, engineered for structural timber applications. ‘Highly Commended’ in the recent...

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Better Homes - a Simple Smart Choice

10th November 2015

Can consumers drive better quality in homes? With the overhaul of standards, legislation and the Zero Carbon homes target now no more – what next for high performing homes? Gwyn Roberts, Head of Housing standards at BRE, explains how the Home...

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Playing it Safe

10th November 2015

Every year, many construction site workers are killed or injured as a result of their work. Others often suffer ill health, such as musculoskeletal disorders, dermatitis or asbestosis. The construction industry’s performance has, however, shown a...

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Reducing Fire Risk

6th November 2015

Due to misconceptions surrounding the use of timber and the risk of fire, there are instances where the material may be perfect for the project but wrongly avoided under a common misunderstanding. With that in mind, what needs to be considered in...

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Off-site construction specialist goes under

4th November 2015

Off-site building specialist Nordic Construction UK has been placed in administration. Established at the start of the recession in 2009, the Guildford-based volumetric timber-frame systems specialist grew rapidly supplying turn-key build solutions...

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Four bag £100m offsite housing deal

4th November 2015

South East housing association Hyde Group has selected four partners to deliver a £100 programme of offsite housing over the next four years. The housing association is aiming to build around 1,500 homes a year, of which around 10% are targeted to...

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Offsite firm McAvoy seals £36m of school deals

4th November 2015

Offsite construction specialist The McAvoy Group has signed a contract to deliver a new east London school worth £18m. The firm has also secured preferred bidder status on a second school project worth £18m in Slough. Both of the schemes will...

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Celebrate the best in building with the world’s leading mainstream, low-carbon construction material

2nd November 2015

Following the huge success of this year’s Structural Timber Awards, the prestigious awards ceremony will be returning for 2016! Presented at a high profile dinner, the Structural Timber Awards is taking place on Wednesday 19 October 2016 in...

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TTF starts recruitment drive for new leader

2nd November 2015

The UK Timber Trade Federation (TTF) is to recruit a new director to replace interim CEO David Lennan who will be standing down at the end of this year. The position is being advertised on www.ttjonline.com’s recruitment page from...

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Av Danzer design & build modular building for school

2nd November 2015

Danzer designed and built this brand new modular school building for the school from their production facility in Nottingham. A high quality, robust building was specified, along with outdoor learning space which could be built and installed as...

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Your House: Your Choice

1st November 2015

Custom build has the potential to deliver exciting new communities with a range of homes geared to what owners actually want.  Jon Sawyer, Head of Custom Build for igloo and Chair of NaCSBA’s Developer Group, explains why developers need to...

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Experience Counts

30th October 2015

The LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Partner Authority Scheme is a service shared by all local authority building control teams throughout England and Wales.  Philip O'Connor, from Camden Building Control outlines a few ways it can...

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Sustainability – From Construction and Beyond

27th October 2015

It is widely recognised that climate change presents an ever growing threat to development, poverty eradication efforts and the welfare of citizens from the UK and across the world. The impacts of climate change are already being felt on every...

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Offsite ignorance must be addressed to meet housebuilding targets

22nd October 2015

Much-needed homes could be built offsite and delivered ready to be assembled in order to meet increasing demand, if there is more understanding and clarity that the approach is competitive with more traditional methods of construction. This...

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Modular building system used to create primary school outbuilding

22nd October 2015

The Acermetric modular building system has recently been used to construct a multi-purpose ‘Centre of Excellence’ at a London-based primary school. Designed to reduce both cost and build time, the system makes use of expanded polystyrene, known...

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Why Timber Frame?

21st October 2015

Timber frame currently accounts for around a quarter of new homes in the UK, with over 75% of self-builders using the product as their primary build method. Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA) considers the...

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Platform for Progression - Opinion piece from Dirk Vennix

20th October 2015

The Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) is set to bring fresh impetus to the promotion of the timber supply chain along its entire length.  Dirk Vennix has been charged with making it all happen. “It always seems impossible until it’s...

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India’s first offsite manufactured building gets ready in Deralakatte

20th October 2015

Mangaluru: India’s first offsite manufactured building gets ready at Yenepoya University campus in the city outskirts. KEF Infra, the infrastructure arm of the Singapore-based KEF Holdings, has completed India’s first wholly offsite (factory)...

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Alex Goodfellow named director of timber industry group

19th October 2015

Alex Goodfellow, group managing director of Stewart Milne Timber Systems, has been appointed as director of the Confederation of Timber Industries(CTI). The CTI was launched in June 2015 and has, for the first time, brought together all...

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Building Boards - Braving the Elements

16th October 2015

Now the UK is experiencing more extreme weather events and with the implementation of more stringent building regulations - specifying the right building board system for the job is vital. Even where specialist advice is available, a working...

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NW Housing Associations to pool demand to drive offsite manufacturing

16th October 2015

A consortium of north-west housing associations led by Manchester City Council is hoping to drive higher uptake of offsite manufacturing by pooling demand to create a potential 500-home programme. The Modular Allianz project will...

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Portakabin bags UK’s biggest off-site school job

15th October 2015

York-based Portakabin Group has hailed a tipping point in the use of off-site construction in the schools sector after signing off the UK’s largest deal. The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham awarded the firm the £44m project...

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Offsite is key to Construction 2025

14th October 2015

Call it what you will; ‘offsite construction’, ‘modern methods of construction’, or ‘industrialised construction’ is seen by both key industry players and government as crucial to improving the sector in terms of efficiency, cost,...

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First UK house manufactured totally offsite

14th October 2015

What is claimed to be the first ever house to be 100% manufactured offsite in the UK will be on display at a major industry exhibition this week. Coventry based manufacturer Central Site Accommodation is assembling the house at the ExCeL centre in...

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CLT - a material whose time has come?

13th October 2015

Lendlease has embraced cross-laminated timber (CLT) for some of its major projects. Head of sustainability Jon Kirkpatrick explains why Cobalt Place, a site completed in 2012 comprising of 104 residential units split over two sites in...

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Celebrating the best in Structural Timber – Winners announced

8th October 2015

More than 500 leaders and innovators from across the construction sector gathered at the NEC, Birmingham last night (Tuesday 6 October 2015) for the Inaugural Structural Timber Awards. The prestigious award ceremony truly made its mark on the timber...

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Achieving High Performance Building Envelopes

5th October 2015

System specification is crucial to success when developing an energy efficient, sustainable building. Delivering onsite energy performance as specified in the design brief is a ‘team game’ with professionals working together to...

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Skanska's 'flying factories' take off in Slough

2nd October 2015

Supply chain issues with offsite manufacture have often eroded the advantages for Tier 1 contractors. But now Skanska is trialling its own 'flying factories' - launched from a trading estate in slough. Tom Ravenscroft reports. With my...

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BWF and STA to collaborate

1st October 2015

The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and Structural Timber Association (STA) are launching a new collaboration agreement at Timber Expo. The BWF, which represents the joinery sector and firms involved in the manufacture of staircases, doors,...

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ST Awards announce George Clarke as pre-dinner speaker!

30th September 2015

We are pleased to announce that George Clarke will be our pre dinner speaker at the inaugural Structural Timber Awards. George Clarke is a British architect, television presenter, lecturer and writer. George has trained and...

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Prater and Mace On Site for BSKYB Phase 3

23rd September 2015

Envelope specialist Prater is currently working on the roof and facade packages for Phase 3 of Sky Television's new campus in Osterley, west London, which includes the offsite construction of complex timber roof cassettes with 417 roof lights. The...

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New modular home system touted to ease UK housing shortage

23rd September 2015

A new type of factory-built, modular home that can be built in half the time as an ordinary house has made its debut in the UK, with promoters saying it could help ease the country’s housing shortage. Dubbed “the ultimate in super-efficient,...

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Oregon Timber Frame sets sights on £40m turnover with expansion

22nd September 2015

Borders timber business Oregon Timber Frame has outlined ambitious plans to extend its manufacturing capability as it looks to capitalise on the demand for new housing. The firm is looking to double its turnover after acquiring a former furniture...

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Report addresses barriers to offsite in housebuilding

16th September 2015

Cost remains the biggest barrier to uptake of offsite construction in housebuilding. That is the conclusion of a report for the Scottish government, which is aiming to extend the use of the construction approach. The Scottish government’s...

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Scape looks to roll out school modules heated by children

16th September 2015

Units using thermal mass of pupils can be extra classrooms or basis of new school buildings The design arm of procurement organisation Scape is in discussion with local authorities about the roll-out of its latest design for modular school buildings...

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Modular specialist to shut East Yorkshire factory

16th September 2015

Off-site modular building specialist Caledonian Modular is restructuring its business and is planning to close its Driffield manufacturing site. Caledonian is currently in consultation with its staff representatives at Driffield with operations set...

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Mace director joins off-site specialist

15th September 2015

Mace Director Simon Underwood has joined The Pickstock Group as Managing Director of its off‐site building company Elements Europe. Underwood spent five years at Mace where he was business unit director for residential and a member of the...

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Village School sets a standard in education buildings

14th September 2015

Teachers and pupils at a Northamptonshire school are excited to start the academic year in new and modern classroom facilities thanks to the arrival of a sustainable timber framed building. Leading joinery manufacturer, Scotts of Thrapston, were...

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Offsite specialists partner of choice for £1.5m expansion

9th September 2015

One of Sheffield’s handful of rural schools has turned to offsite construction specialists – Roan Building Solutions - to deliver a £1.5m project for September 2015 as ultimately Oughtibridge Primary School will increase its intake by 25 per...

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Rogers' £30k flatpack homes open

8th September 2015

YMCA charity hoping initiative will tackle capital’s housing crisis A scheme to build a number of flatpack homes in south London designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners has been formally opened by planning minister Brandon Lewis. The YMCA,...

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Laing O’Rourke loses millions on modern construction techniques, but won’t give up

7th September 2015

British contractor Laing O’Rourke, which aims to be a world leader in off-site construction techniques, has taken a financial hit for its efforts at innovation – but insists it will keep trying. The third largest UK builder by turnover says...

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Are prefab boxes the answer to Britain's severe housing shortage?

1st September 2015

Design company Bert & May says portable units are an affordable way to add extra space to homes Britain needs to build around 250,000 new homes a year to ease the chronic housing shortage, although current figures show homebuilders are...

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Solid Wood- The Solution to Education Building

1st September 2015

Current lack of available in school places within the UK has been widely publicised in recent months. The critical need for new schools has come from overcrowding in the current education system and these figures are not slowing down – government...

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Willmott Dixon, Wates to deliver Dutch zero carbon housing retrofits in UK

28th August 2015

Willmott Dixon and Wates Living Space are two of the founding members of Energiesprong UK, a company set up to bring an innovative zero-carbon retrofit scheme from the Netherlands to the UK market. The mass retrofit scheme hopes to turn thousands of...

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