Modern methods of construction (MMC) has been at the forefront of innovation in construction for some time now. This newer methodology and building process has been discussed since at least 2005 within the UK, largely we were in the middle of a housing crisis. Since then, the trajectory and growth in regard to the adoption of MMC has been at what we’d call a very slow rate. The number of projects including MMC across the entire construction industry is still very small and there is a lot of progress still to be made.
As the UK continues to return back to ‘normal’ from national lockdowns, MMC is repeatedly being mentioned amongst the industry. Why is this? The UK had a housing crisis before the pandemic and lockdowns started in March 2020. The construction industry was one industry which largely ground to a halt, which stalled projects being completed, and forecasts and projections being met. However, with a pre-existing shortage of houses and now a delay in housing projects fuelled by the pandemic, there is a need to catch up with projects, which is where modern methods of construction comes in. MMC allows for faster build programmes in comparison to traditional construction methods and is often far cheaper, which can help developers optimise their operations to drive efficiencies.
Understanding the concerns of the constructing industry, here are a few ideas about how modern methods of construction can change the construction industry moving forward.
Increased Adoption
The UK is currently experiencing a shortage in housing, which the government and developers are trying to deliver upon. Whereby construction had been halted across the pandemic the answer currently to deliver these much-needed housing projects is to propose that MMC is taken up across more projects. This is the new solution for driving change towards an improved approach for design and construction. This method can help not only produce the housing required but also help to complete the projects faster as developers would appreciate catching up on projected forecasts.
Whereby MMC has always moved slowly with traditional methods of construction preferred, there is certainly now a need to consider MMC, which will be at the top of everyone’s thoughts.
With MMC sounding like the solution, it’s likely to be recommended and adopted. Developers will most certainly have this modernised form of construction in their thoughts.
Modern Methods of Construction Experts
MMC’s slow growth has been down to many factors including a lack of knowledge and expertise. This particular drawback has significantly halted growth. With MMC being earmarked as a possible solution to housing projects, knowledge and expertise is needed to help facilitate the potential upsurge in MMC tenders. Businesses such as Henry Riley who are Construction and Property Consultants in the UK are benefiting the cause of ensuring experts are available across the market to help with the MMC push. Henry Riley offer a Modern Methods of Construction consulting service which the industry has been asking for and more experts are likely to come to the market to help drive forward the approach which is likely to grow more in the demand.
Manufacturing of MMC projects
Another of the drawback to MMC was the lack of manufacturing in the UK. Before MMC grew to the point of where it is now most of the manufacturing was imported, which consistently pressed the question of why we should shift from traditional to modern construction if it were to take away from the UK economy. This drawback had definitely halted the growth of MMC.
Now that MMC has grown further, manufacturing facilities for MMC are popping up more often. Most impressive was the Legal and General MMC facility which was ready at the start of 2020 and is now the UK’s largest MMC manufacturing base, as well as the largest in Europe. This gives the construction industry a chance to consider homegrown construction right here within the UK which was once a concern. As the demand grows the construction industry is going to continue to see more and more manufacturing facilities appear.
So, how is Modern Methods of Construction changing the construction industry?
Whereby once MMC had many large barriers to adoption, some of these rather large barriers have been addressed, which now provides more confidence in it as a viable construction solution. The government is more confident it can be adopted, as are developers. With unprecedented amounts of housing projects to be delivered MMC is seriously being considered more and more as an answer to the current problem of catching up on demand.