Research on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Social Housing

The development of housing using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is starting to become more commonplace in the UK, and is being hailed by some as the answer to the UK’s mounting housing crisis.

To alleviate the crisis it is reported that three million social homes must be constructed over the next 20 years, so it is unsurprising that social housing providers are feeling the pressure to find new ways of delivering quality homes more quickly and affordably.

The Government certainly sees MMC as a way of modernising the construction industry and increasing productivity, with offsite manufacturing technology laid out as a strategic area of focus in its ambitious Construction Sector Deal.

As well as speeding up delivery by reducing the delays that affect onsite construction, other widely reported potential benefits of MCC include cost savings, reduced wastage and better quality homes.

However, there are also a number of reported drawbacks to MMC, including the high cost of set-up, the need for economies of scale and the difficulty in accessing finance for MMC developments.

Larger social housing providers are making significant investments Right Quote

Survey of social housing providers

Some of the larger social housing providers are committing to the use of MMC by making significant investments in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, but is this a true reflection of uptake by the wider industry? What proportion of social housing providers have actually developed homes using MMC? For those who have, how many of these homes have they constructed? And are they planning on increasing the use of MMC over the coming years?

For those who are yet to develop homes using MMC, will they be using these methods over the coming years? And if not, why not?

Also, what are considered to be the most significant benefits and barriers to constructing homes using MMC?

Download full report and survey results here.

Building for the Future

As part of its Building for the Future series of research into some of the built environment’s hottest topics, Epwin Group has surveyed social housing providers asking them these questions and more.

Sonia Travis, Head of Commercial Sales at Epwin Group, said: “With over 40 years’ experience of supplying social housing, Epwin has been at the forefront of driving or responding to innovation in construction and home design since the 1970s.

“In my experience, the pace of innovation is often accelerated by a range of influencing factors, including leaps in available technologies, and this is certainly true of MMC.

“Modular homes appear to have finally reached that commercial tipping-point that makes them a viable, scalable option, and Epwin is now designing and supplying window and door solutions to ever larger social modular developments.
“We’ve learnt a lot already around what it takes to supply a ‘factory’ manufactured home, and every new modular project we deliver breaks new ground on our specification and design moving forward.

“But this learning process never ends, and we‘re committed to ensuring that any modular products we supply are 100% fit for purpose and maximize the efficiency benefits gained from that method of construction.

“This report is a synopsis of what we’ve learnt from social landlords to date, and we hope you enjoy it.”

Download full report and survey results here.

every new modular project we deliver breaks new ground Right Quote

Registered Office: 1B Stratford Court, Cranmore Boulevard, Solihull, B90 4QT. Registered in England: 7742256.

Research on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Social Housing

The development of housing using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is starting to become more commonplace in the UK, and is being hailed by some as the answer to the UK’s mounting housing crisis.

To alleviate the crisis it is reported that three million social homes must be constructed over the next 20 years, so it is unsurprising that social housing providers are feeling the pressure to find new ways of delivering quality homes more quickly and affordably.

The Government certainly sees MMC as a way of modernising the construction industry and increasing productivity, with offsite manufacturing technology laid out as a strategic area of focus in its ambitious Construction Sector Deal.

As well as speeding up delivery by reducing the delays that affect onsite construction, other widely reported potential benefits of MCC include cost savings, reduced wastage and better quality homes.

However, there are also a number of reported drawbacks to MMC, including the high cost of set-up, the need for economies of scale and the difficulty in accessing finance for MMC developments.

Larger social housing providers are making significant investments Right Quote

Survey of social housing providers

Some of the larger social housing providers are committing to the use of MMC by making significant investments in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, but is this a true reflection of uptake by the wider industry? What proportion of social housing providers have actually developed homes using MMC? For those who have, how many of these homes have they constructed? And are they planning on increasing the use of MMC over the coming years?

For those who are yet to develop homes using MMC, will they be using these methods over the coming years? And if not, why not?

Also, what are considered to be the most significant benefits and barriers to constructing homes using MMC?

Download full report and survey results here.

every new modular project we deliver breaks new ground Right Quote

Building for the Future

As part of its Building for the Future series of research into some of the built environment’s hottest topics, Epwin Group has surveyed social housing providers asking them these questions and more.

Sonia Travis, Head of Commercial Sales at Epwin Group, said: “With over 40 years’ experience of supplying social housing, Epwin has been at the forefront of driving or responding to innovation in construction and home design since the 1970s.

“In my experience, the pace of innovation is often accelerated by a range of influencing factors, including leaps in available technologies, and this is certainly true of MMC.

“Modular homes appear to have finally reached that commercial tipping-point that makes them a viable, scalable option, and Epwin is now designing and supplying window and door solutions to ever larger social modular developments.
“We’ve learnt a lot already around what it takes to supply a ‘factory’ manufactured home, and every new modular project we deliver breaks new ground on our specification and design moving forward.

“But this learning process never ends, and we‘re committed to ensuring that any modular products we supply are 100% fit for purpose and maximize the efficiency benefits gained from that method of construction.

“This report is a synopsis of what we’ve learnt from social landlords to date, and we hope you enjoy it.”

Download full report and survey results here.

Registered Office: 1B Stratford Court, Cranmore Boulevard, Solihull, B90 4QT. Registered in England: 7742256.