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 unquestionable that further complacency in this area will result in spiralling house prices and rent rates, with the possibility of homelessness for worst affected.
For many, this crisis has already reached a state of urgency. A recent interim report from the London Housing Commission stresses the lack of action taken so far, with statistics highlighting how the trouble with housing has escalated. Buying a house in London is now out of reach for most, with the average house prices set at 10 times the average wage and the deposits set at around £70,000. For renters, the changes have risen by 16%, while weekly pay has only increased by 2%.
The commission’s report notes London needs 500,000 new homes to be built over the next decade, the statistics show that only 194,000 were built in the last one, posing the question how is the industry going to meet this challenge?
For those in the construction industry with fresh ideas and technologies, this nationwide crisis has potential – the potential to change the norm which governs the ways new homes are planned and constructed.
Offsite construction brings with it the hope that the industry can beat Osborne’s deadline. Moving construction of houses offsite enables the build to take place both efficiently and economically, making the national shortage of labour less of a concern. There is significant evidence that suggests that the use of offsite construction has been successful in meeting the needs of significant housing developments at scale.
In traditionally built homes, high energy bills make paying the above prices harder, but offsite construction facilitates the building of homes that are environmentally sustainable and airtight – a great benefit to housing associations.
The recent news that the government are to release small plots of land to small developers should increase the quantity of planned new homes. Utilising offsite construction would speed up the construction processes for these projects, as building offsite does not depend upon conditions.
As this method has already demonstrated significant innovation in recent years, it definitely has the potential to play a major role within the future of the industry.
Explore Offsite’s housing event is your opportunity to involve yourself in the industry’s new ideas and technologies. Taking place 23 & 24 March 2016 (08.45am - 16.00pm) at the Gallery Suite of the NEC, Birmingham, the event will be a platform for construction clients, architects, engineers and contractors to come together and discuss the latest offsite solutions for the housing sector.
A range of industry experts are confirmed to speak this event, including:
• Andrew Orgorzalek - Partner, PCKO Architects
• Jeff Endean - Housing Matters, London Borough of Lewisham
• Tom Bloxham, MBE - Director, Urban Splash
• Jay Shaw - Head of Business Development, Snoozebox
A number of exhibitors will be present over the two days to showcase and discuss their advances within offsite construction. If you are interested in exhibiting at this event, please contact Julie Richards at julie.richards@radar-communications.co.uk.
The booking for this event will be open shortly. In the meantime, please visit our website at www.exploreoffsite.co.uk to register your interest.
