Offsite & MMC

A raft of modular firms have been named for a £1.2bn framework to build thousands of homes across Britain using modern methods of construction (MMC). The new modular and offsite homes will be delivered under not-for-profit public sector construction framework provider London Housing Consortium Procurement Group’s (LHC) new Modern Methods…

US-based modular giant Volumetric Building Companies (VBC) has expanded its UK management team as part of what it described as “aggressive” growth plans. Tim Uttley has joined the firm as commercial director for the UK and special markets. He will lead VBC’s business development activities in the UK, as well…

It’s widely accepted that more standardisation and better use of digital solutions could help construction become a more efficient industry, but there are barriers standing in the way. Construction News and IFS gathered a panel of experts to examine what’s stopping us On the panel 1 Scott Tacchi, head of…

Offsite production of the first of 68 precast concrete piers to support HS2's Thame Valley modular viaduct has begun. The UK subsidiary of Spanish firm Pacadar started manufacturing the piers yesterday (18 May) at an offsite factory (pictured) on the Isle of Grain. The 880-metre-long modular viaduct near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire,…

Government plans to standardise modern methods of construction (MMC) would remove barriers to innovation, one of the participants in a new initiative has told Construction News. Plans to establish a sector-wide standard for the construction industry would also encourage the wider use of modern building materials, equipment and techniques, said…

Legal & General (L&G) will stop producing modular homes as long planning delays and Covid meant its factory failed to become profitable. L&G Modular Homes has posted six straight years of losses since its launch, with its latest loss standing at £36.9m for the year to 31 December 2021. L&G…

Are high upfront costs and a lack of clarity on work pipelines behind a recent spate of high-profile setbacks in the modular construction sector?  In the 1989 Hollywood movie Field of Dreams, a ghostly voice whispering “If you build it, they will come” inspired Kevin Costner’s character to turn his…

Modular housebuilder TopHat has secured a £70m investment from the markets and pledged to open its long-awaited mega-factory next year. The Derby-based offsite construction specialist raised the capital from major new and existing shareholders as it bids to take its production of homes to a new level. Traditional housebuilding giant…

A UK and EU-based company developing small modular reactors (SMRs) has announced an equity raise of up to £900m for development of its work. Newcleo, which has registered businesses in Italy, France and the UK, is developing what it calls lead-cooled fast nuclear reactors, and plans to manufacture fuel from…

Twenty-nine firms have been named on a £10bn offsite framework to help deliver more social housing, new schools and hospital extensions.  The four-year framework, for all public bodies, features six lots covering education, health, residential, justice, defence, and ‘thermal efficiency upgrades’. Among the most high-profile winners are Kier, in partnership…