We must be imaginative and innovative in the way we build and deliver new homes.
Now more than ever, the time is right for all facets of the housing delivery sector to embrace the many attractions that modern methods of construction (MMC) can bring to the challenge, complementing our existing delivery methods.
It is not one or the other; we need traditional and the new together to solve the challenges.
With skills, materials and capacity shortages self-evident, it is incumbent on the industry to take advantage of the rising interest and investment in MMC and quickly embrace processes that are well-established in many international markets.
Particularly in dense urban settings, the potential advantages of advanced manufacturing and modular approaches – whether in terms of speed of build, reduced disruption or creating new skilled jobs – have a strong appeal.
At Hyde we plan to deliver around 5,000 new homes over the next three years and believe the best way to deliver these will be through a mix of new and traditional building techniques.
We have already identified new methods to pursue, which include volumetric and hybrid units, assembled fully fitted out before being transported to site; panellised flat panel units built in a factory; and components that can be incorporated into either conventionally built or MMC dwellings.
Source: Construction News
Explore Offsite will discuss embracing new ways of building to solve the housing crisis at The Housing Event, Birmingham, 07 Jul 2015.
