Christopher Pincher has told the housing sector that he wants the UK to be a “global leader” in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
Speaking to the Northern Housing Consortium’s Modern Methods of Construction webinar, the Housing Minister set out his vision for how the future of housing could look, with MMC very much at the core.
Starting off by addressing the COVID-19 outbreak, Pincher said: “I appreciate how difficult times are for you right now. We are in the middle of national crisis that requires a national effort. It has been described as the worst crisis in a generation
“I want to thank all of you for what you are doing because I know it is a tough time.
“I want to thank you for some of the efforts you are already making to help with the production of respirators, something absolutely crucial to those suffering with the virus and in our intensive care units around the country.”
Moving on to how housing can play a part in the recovery effort, the Housing Minister continued: “The crisis will end, and when it does there will be a bright future for the housing industry.
“If we can get the economy to rebound in a V shape rather than a U shape, our target remains to build 300,000 homes every year by 2025 and a million new homes by the end of this parliament. We are on course for that at the moment.
“The measures the Chancellor announced in the Budget aid and abet the building of more homes.”
Pincher said that he agrees with predecessor Esther McVey, as he called Modern Methods of Construction “a game changer” that will “transform our housebuilding industry”.
He added: “I was really pleased to meet Mark Farmer to talk to him about the challenges faced by the sector but also the opportunities that the sector has at its disposal.
“It seems to me that if we can convene a roundtable when this storm has passed, we can look at what we can do to further standardise Modern Methods of Construction across the piece.
“I mean that in terms of R&D, in terms of manufacture, in terms of construction, so that we drop the plural in Methods and end up with just a Modern Method of Construction.
“I think that is a way we can build MMC to a size and scale that will really make a difference.”
While impressed that there are 220 MMC factories in the Northern Corridor, Pincher said he would “hope to see more in the Midlands” and encouraged the sector to help SMEs enter the MMC market.
Concluding, the Housing Minister said: “Once we are through this emergency, then there is a real opportunity for the sector.
“I am keen to work closely with Mark Farmer and with you all so that we position the United Kingdom as a global leader in MMC.
“I am keen that I feedback to the Chancellor the issues you are facing now, in order to continue your business operations.
“The government has said that it will stand behind our country, its services and its businesses to get us through this crisis.”
He continued: “Our economy is an incredibly complicated and intricate organism. There is no way that anyone can find a one size fits all fix overnight. So what the Chancellor did was to try and get as much done as quickly as possible.
“He has said if there is more to do, then we will do it. If there are gaps to be plugged, he will look at plugging those gaps.
“So please do keep in touch with us and explain the challenges you face as well as the opportunities you have.
“When the storm has passed, I look forward to a bright future for our housebuilding industry and for our MMC sector.”
When quizzed after on how many numbers he hopes to see being built by Modern Methods of Construction, Pincher said: “I think first of all we need to see how quickly we can get up to scale.
“But if you assume that we need to build somewhere in the region of 300,000 new homes a year, if you can get more standardisation in the sector, if you can get the factories up to scale, I think quite a significant proportion of that 300,000 per year ought to be achievable through MMC.
“We are seeing in the Far East this is happening so there is no reason it couldn’t happen here.”
He added: “The other thing is to get the big players bought into the importance of MMC.
“I know Barclay’s has got plans to build their own facilities, that is a good sign for the sector generally because it shows there is appetite to build MMC at scale. That means the whole supply chain can benefit.”
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