7 July 2015
Modular off-site building could be the key to solving the UK’s broken housing market, according to a new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
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The UK House Building: Manufacturing Affordable Quality Homes report is calling on Government to provide more incentives for the off-site construction of homes. A key recommendation calls on the Government to diversify UK housebuilding by opening up opportunities to self builders, local authorities and housing associations.
The document suggests a comprehensive housing market reform programme – introduced by parliament and supported by UK-based off-site manufacturers – aimed at growing the self build sector, to supply at least 50% of market demand (125,000 homes a year in England) by 2030.
Dr Tim Fox, lead author of the report and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: “The UK is in the middle of an acute housing crisis. Current annual construction levels are typically less than half of the estimated 250,000 new homes this country needs built every year through to at least the 2030s. The new Government needs to demonstrate real ambition, leadership and innovation, not make small piecemeal changes, if it is going to solve the UK’s housing crisis. Overhauling the way the UK constructs homes could be the quickest and most effective way of doing this.
“Off-site construction technologies have advanced greatly in recent years and can offer shorter build times, better quality, better energy efficiency, less waste, and lower costs for buyers. Government should provide incentives to encourage self builders, local authorities and housing associations to build more homes.
“People living in the UK deserve affordable quality homes and it is about time that consumers had more say on the quality, design and size of their homes. Self build is one very effective route to achieving this.”
