Northstowe’s development in Cambridgeshire is one of eight sites being studied, and the Building Research Foundation, University College London, Atkins, and Faithful & Gould will collect and monitor data from 1,800 homes at eight construction sites over the next six years. The study on so-called Modern Building Methods (MMC) comes after a year of work by consultants Atkins and Faithful & Gould (both part of the Canadian company SNC-Lavalin) to shape the data collection methodology. The work is commissioned by Homes England, the government housing agency, and has published a preliminary report outlining the terms of study. You acknowledge that there is no meaningful definition of MMC and that the term is generally used collectively for a wide range of building systems, including modular, plate and prefabricated frames, all of which should be considered in the new research project. Data will be collected across eight Homes England sites that use unconventional building systems to provide “long-term, in-depth and verifiable data so that informed decisions can be made on emerging building technologies”. The research will explore construction cost and speed, safety performance, rupture and defect issues, construction waste, logistics, and energy efficiency performance. The government hopes the research will confirm the prevailing wisdom that these technologies are fantastic and that more companies will be pushed to adopt them. “Our support for modern construction methods will play a vital role in this and this research will help us understand these new building technologies, which can be revolutionary for the industry in terms of productivity improvement, construction speed, and economies of scale,” said Housing Minister Christopher Pincher. Robert Stone, Technical Director of Homes England, said: “We are committed to providing the industry with the set of evidence it demands in order to increase understanding of modern home building technologies and increase the assimilation of modern methods of construction.” Now more than ever, we recognize that there is more to be done. Tags to share learning and build confidence in MMC. This broad-based, long-term, and in-depth project will provide the sector the valuable evidence it needs to make informed decisions about MMC and deliver better homes faster. “Suggested sites and technologies currently participating in the study are listed below (although this is subject to change, Homes Engand says) Location Site Size Initial Technology Northstow Phase 2 Cambridge 406 Modular Homes East Quayside Newcastle 292 Homes Light Scale Steel Frame Swindon Gate Swindon 159 homes units Spencer Park Hemel Hempstead 600 paneled houses Grappenhall Heys Phase 2 Warrington 220 modular and paneled homes York Road Birmingham 80 homes Tattenhoe Phase 4 Milton Keynes 100 homes Panellised Park Prewett – Hollies Phase Basingstoke 30 modular homes Have a story? @ theconstructionindex.co.uk.
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