HOW DOES IT ALL STACK UP?

Welcome to our special magazine section championing some recent projects and businesses operating in the volumetric modular space within the offsite world. Volumetric modular has become synonymous with offsite and modern methods of construction (MMC) in recent years, especially in conversations surrounding housebuilding. Make UK Modular estimate that modular housebuilders require up to 50% fewer workers to deliver the same number of homes, thanks to the efficiency of the assembly line and the economies of scale inherent in volume manufacturing.

While innovation and digital design is driving the success story of volumetric methods, an uphill struggle still remains for many in the industry to convince clients of its benefits. Ultimately, it is just about taking traditional building materials and then using factory-based manufacturing processes and cutting-edge technology, to produce repeatable sections and components. This factory process feeds into improved quality, reliability, de-risking site-based installation and increasing overall productivity.

Allied to this is that within the factory environment, a path of continuous improvement sees producers swiftly identify, reduce and correct those aspects of production that are inefficient. Over the next few pages, we showcase several developments across the volumetric sector where organisations are doing just that, and you can begin to understand why volumetric modular methods are being investigated so keenly as a way to transform the UK’s built environment.

Contents

62

ALGECO

James Withey, Managing Director at Algeco Offsite, assesses the scale of the challenges for building users and outlines a useful CPD to help.

70 | Rollalong

Housing association Magna, Wiltshire Council and Dorsetbased manufacturer Rollalong joined forces in 2022 to tackle the housing crisis using modular building methods pledging to build nearly 1,000 new affordable homes by 2026.

72 | Beattie Passive

Beattie Passive has announced that the homes at Yr Hafan –the collective housing scheme it handed over to Cardiff Council in 2022 – have been officially certified to the Passivhaus Plus standard by the Passivhaus Institut in Germany.

74 | Enevate Homes

Enevate Homes has witnessed recent high demand for volumetric modular that may signal that the proportion of new homes being delivered in this way is set to increase rapidly.

76 | Merit

64 | MPBA

Richard Hipkiss, Development Director of the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) explains how MMC is being driven by increased demand of key sectors including healthcare, education and housing.

66

| MTX

Offsite construction has enabled MTX to achieve faster and more efficient completion of a new general surgery operating theatre at Yeovil District Hospital.

68

| Wernick Buildings

Modular construction pioneer Wernick Buildings recently completed a new healthcare clinic located in Greater London, with volumetric modular proving the perfect solution.

69

| Apex Modular Systems

A new venture formed by two North East modular construction businesses is aiming to supercharge the offsite construction sector across the UK by offering a fresh dimension in M&E provision.

Healthcare is a key sector for the volumetric modular sector being able to provide excellent new facilities quickly. Work is now underway at a much-needed new hospital in Berwickupon-Tweed.

78 | ZED PODS

Using a design-led, offsite approach is central to unlocking the potential for brownfield sites. Lalit Chauhan, Design Director for ZED PODS, describes why.

80 | Aquarian Cladding

Jazz Rigden, Aquarian Cladding’s Sales Director, discusses the benefits of a brick façade and why the Gebrik system is perfect for modular construction.

82 | Top Hat

Taking its modular housebuilding expertise over the Channel to France, TopHat has entered an exclusive partnership with Nexity, France’s largest housebuilder to further advance offsite construction.