The Road to 300,000: Harnessing the Power of Offsite Construction
Our industry is entering a time of rapid change. We’re being asked to re-evaluate our relationship with carbon, and find new more efficient ways of building, all while finding workable solutions to the housing crisis. It’s clear that ‘business as usual’ just isn’t going to work for us anymore. A step-change is needed.
Of the many challenges facing our industry, one of the biggest is the target to build 300,000 new homes annually by the mid-2020s. This herculean task comes at a time when traditional construction is plagued by a dwindling skilled workforce and an insufficient influx of new talent. Achieving this ambitious goal appears an increasingly formidable task and it’s obvious we need to go back to the drawing board on how to solve it. This predicament should trigger an exploration of alternative solutions capable of transforming the construction landscape, and offsite construction emerges as a powerful contender.
Housing 2023 – an Opportunity for Change
To accompany Mansell Managing Director, Angela Mansell’s activities at next week’s CIH Housing 2023 conference this blog will lay down Angela’s thoughts on how we can use offsite construction to help reach that housing target. Offsite construction is a fantastic tool with bags of potential, but for it to become the game-changer needed to tackle the housing crisis, a step change is needed.
Offsite Construction: A Potential Game-Changer
Offsite construction offers a whole host of benefits over and above traditional methods including:
Beats the Weather: AS you know, you can never trust the Great British weather. Offsite construction happens indoors, so there's no waiting around for rain or snow to clear.
Fast: Building parts of a house in a factory can be much quicker than traditional methods. Less time waiting and more time working.
Quality Check: With offsite construction, quality control is vastly simplified. Everything's done under one roof, so it's easier to keep an eye on standards.
Eco-friendly: Offsite construction can reduce waste and has a smaller carbon footprint than traditional methods. Great news for the environment.
Costs kept under control: The process can be more predictable, reducing the likelihood of unpleasant, costly surprises. So, no worries about your budget going out the window.
Safety First: Work sites are often safer with offsite construction, as many potential hazards are eliminated. That's a big tick in the box!
An important and often overlooked benefit of offsite construction is its lower dependency on an increasingly scarce on-site labour force. In short, this means it has the potential to alleviate a significant portion of the workforce crunch. But the promise of offsite construction extends well beyond this. It introduces improved efficiencies, cost savings, enhanced quality control, and an increased element of predictability - qualities that traditional construction methods, with their susceptibility to variables such as weather and logistical issues, often lack.
By manufacturing elements in a controlled factory environment, offsite construction allows for better management of project timelines and costs, thus introducing a degree of control and stability that traditional methods struggle to match.
But what are its challenges?
Overcoming the Obstacles in Offsite Construction
Yet, despite these evident benefits, the implementation of offsite construction in the UK is not without obstacles. A key challenge lies in the disconnect between specialist offsite contractors and the broader construction process. Due to this gap, architects and planners often create designs without the detailed insights that Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can provide. This results in projects that may require extensive, costly redesign after planning approval has already been obtained - a significant deterrent to the optimal adoption of offsite construction.
Simultaneously, there is a palpable fear within the extensive chain of consultants and contractors involved in construction projects. As the industry contemplates a shift towards a fully modular offsite method, these individuals and firms may perceive this as a threat to their portion of the profit, thus hindering the full acceptance and application of offsite construction. It stands to reason that if consultants can’t see a financial future for themselves under an offsite construction system, there will be significant opposition and reluctance to adopt it.
Paving the Way Forward: Early Involvement and True Partnerships
Overcoming these hurdles requires a significant paradigm shift in our approach to offsite construction. To ensure that the designs align with the realities of offsite construction from the get-go, specialist offsite contractors should be incorporated into the design and planning stages from the very start. This early involvement can minimise costly redesigns and promote the efficiency and cost-effectiveness that are hallmarks of offsite construction. To scale up offsite house building towards the 300,000 homes target, we simply can’t afford the inefficiencies that are prevalent in today’s industry.
Likewise, the development of true partnerships rooted in trust, honesty, and open communication is pivotal. At the beginning of a project, all parties involved must engage in candid discussions about profit margins and expectations to foster mutual understanding and respect. By being transparent about profit distribution from the onset, fears surrounding the adoption of offsite methods can be assuaged, laying the groundwork for a more collaborative environment. We have to understand that behind all the bricks and mortars are businesses and individuals who need to feel safe and get appropriate recompense for their work.
Embracing the New Era of Construction
Confronting the daunting task of building 300,000 new homes annually is about much more than overcoming challenges; it's about embracing change and seizing new opportunities. It necessitates a shift from the trepidation of the unknown to the exhilaration of exploring new possibilities.
Offsite construction is not a threat, but an evolution of traditional methods, an innovative response to our current circumstances. By embracing this shift, we can utilise offsite construction's potential to meet our ambitious goals.
True Partnerships: The Catalyst for Success
True partnerships, founded on mutual trust, respect, and shared goals, can act as a catalyst in this transformative journey. Such partnerships replace competition with collaboration, making the entire process more efficient and cost-effective. They infuse innovation into projects, enabling the adoption of creative solutions and state-of-the-art technologies that drive quality and sustainability. In essence, these partnerships have the power to revolutionise not just individual projects but the industry at large.
In a true partnership, every party - from architects and planners to consultants, contractors, and specialist offsite teams - works in unison towards the common goal of successful project delivery. There is shared ownership of the project's successes and challenges, fostering a sense of collective responsibility that fuels collaboration and drives efficiency.
And at the end of the day, a true partnership ensures everyone gets their piece of the pie.
Are contractors coming around to the idea?
The need to do offsite construction differently is not a new idea, but the theory and practicalities are two different things. As it happens some main contractors are coming around to the idea, just not in the housing sector.
If offsite can become a success in the commercial and industrial sectors, it could be a powerful litmus test for our housing aims.
The role of the government
While we’re on the topic, it's interesting to consider the impact that government support could have. This isn't a demand for action, but rather a chance to contemplate the potential benefits such involvement could bring. With government backing, there could be an increased awareness and broader adoption of offsite construction practices across the UK. Financial incentives might further stimulate the industry, encouraging businesses to invest in this efficient method. And it's not just about speed - quality, sustainable housing is a major focus here. Government support could be a key factor in turning offsite construction from a promising concept into a mainstream solution, helping to build a future that's not just made fast, but made to last. In the end, the choices made now could shape the homes of tomorrow. Just some food for thought.
Navigating Towards a Bright Future
As we navigate towards the goal of building 300,000 new homes a year, we must embrace change and innovation. This ambitious target compels us to rethink traditional processes, encouraging us to leverage the power of offsite construction and optimise its potential. It pushes us to establish strong partnerships, rooted in trust and open communication. Most importantly, it presents an opportunity to reshape the construction landscape, making it more resilient, sustainable, and efficient.
It's crucial to remember that we're not just building homes - we're creating communities where people can thrive. This goal is at the heart of offsite construction, which prioritises quality, sustainability, and efficiency. By adopting this innovative approach, we can deliver on our promise of 300,000 new homes while creating living spaces that are safe, comfortable, and built to last.
Yes, everything we do has to be viable from a financial standpoint and profit is not a dirty word. But we can’t lose sight of the reason why reaching that 300,000 is important. Namely, social value.
Transforming the Dream into Reality
The goal of constructing 300,000 new homes annually is not going to be reached easily and we’re likely going to need more than one solution. Yet as lofty as the target is, it's not unachievable. By harnessing the power of offsite construction, incorporating specialist contractors early in the design process, and fostering honest partnerships, we can start on a new path.
Together, we can shape a future where our ambitious goals are not just met but surpassed, marking a new era in the UK's construction industry.