Industry News

Space-saving Solutions to Maximise Washroom Space

25th July 2022

How can pod and modular bathroom manufacturers ensure efficiency and cost savings across bathroom projects without compromising on space or style? The prominence of...

Countryside to Close Brand new £20m Modular Factory

22nd July 2022

Loss-making timber frame plant was supposed to produce 3,500 homes a year. Partnerships housebuilder Countryside is to shut its brand-new modular housing factory at Bardon, Leicestershire as part of a plan to reduce losses...

Portakabin Completes Installation in Just two Weeks for new Special Needs School in Norfolk

21st July 2022

The £12.7m school is the first school to be awarded to Portakabin under the Department for Education's (DfE) MMC1 framework. Installation has completed in just two weeks for a brand new,...

CPG (UK) Modular Manufacturing Paves the Way for Modern Construction

20th July 2022

CPG UK and its family of brands have been at the forefront of innovation in the construction industry for many years now. Over the last 10 years, we have pinpointed focus through our dedicated modular manufacturing team, who work closely with...

Morgan Sindall to Deliver £5.8m Cambridge Hospital Resource Centre

19th July 2022

Morgan Sindall Construction has begun works on transforming an old modular building to deliver a new Cambridge hospital resource centre, at Fulbourn...

ilke Homes Installs First Factory-built Homes for Stonewater in Hereford

19th July 2022

Modular housing pioneer ilke Homes has craned into place the first factory-built homes on a site in Hereford where the company is delivering an affordable housing scheme for leading housing provider Stonewater. The scheme,...

How can we Redefine Modular Construction for a New Era?

15th July 2022

Viewpoint, a leader in construction project management solutions, explores what makes this new age of offsite construction bigger and better? What can this...

Industry Accolades Roll in for Offsite Specialist M-AR

14th July 2022

Offsite specialist contractor M-AR has been shortlisted for several industry awards for its outstanding work within the offsite sector in the last 12...

Offsite Solutions Announces Highest Order Intake

14th July 2022

Offsite Solutions, the UK's leading bathroom pod manufacturer, has announced its highest-ever order intake with nearly £40m of new contracts. This is for the manufacture of around 10,000 units and is a significant...

Hill Group Gifts Six SoloHaus to Southend City Council to House the Homeless

13th July 2022

On 7th July 2022 , award winning housebuilder, The Hill Group, officially handed over the keys for six SoloHaus to Southend-on-Sea City Council, the first council in Essex to make use of these purpose-built modular...

Digital Construction Awards: The Forge wins Offsite award

13th July 2022

The Forge office project is pioneering proof of a platform design for manufacture and assembly strategy. Its team of Bryden Wood with Landsec, Sir Robert McAlpine, Mace and NG Bailey secured the Digital Innovation in Offsite Construction...

Problems at Modular Factory Caused Collapse of Urban Splash House

13th July 2022

'Under-use, 'design issues' and 'defects' at Alfreton plant sent group into administration, administrator's report says. Urban Splash's modular housing joint venture collapsed because of the under-use of its factory,...

Trio of new Board Appointments at Thurston Group

13th July 2022

Modular building manufacturer Thurston Group has welcomed three new directors to its Executive Leadership Team, strengthening the production, construction, and financial expertise of its leadership team. The new directors will...

New Construction Minister Appointed

12th July 2022

Lord Callanan given construction brief following departure of Lee Rowley. The government has appointed Lord Callanan as the new construction minister following the departure of Lee Rowley, the department has confirmed. ...

Fusion Steel Framing Snapped up by Leading House-Builder Hill

12th July 2022

Fusion Steel Framing Limited has announced it has been acquired by leading housebuilder, The Hill Group. Following the acquisition, Fusion will remain at its 80,000 sq foot advanced manufacturing facility in Northampton, retaining a large...

The Evolution of Volumetric Modular Technology

11th July 2022

Richard Hipkiss, development director of the Modular & Portable Building Association, looks at the journey of volumetric modular technology. Construction is a complex business. Recently volumetric modular technology has rightly...

Trimble Technology Lab Tipped to Give Students Head Start

8th July 2022

Edinburgh Napier University has officially opened its expanded Trimble Technology Lab at its Merchiston Campus in the south west of the capital. Project Scotland was...

Using the Power of Offsite

6th July 2022

Modern methods of construction (MMC) are increasingly viewed as a way to deal with the UK's many housing problems. LHC Group interim Managing Director, Elaine Elkington investigates how this approach also supports the Government's levelling...

It’s Official – EOS Gain BOPAS Accreditation

5th July 2022

Following on from the announcement that EOS Framing has reached the finals of the Construction News Specialists Awards and has an unprecedented seven entries shortlisted in the Offsite Awards, the leading steel framing innovators have reported...

Your Free Ticket to the Home of Offsite Technology Innovation

4th July 2022

The construction sector is at a critical crossroads - offsite technology is now recognised as providing the most important solution to overcome many of the challenges facing the industry today. ...

VOLUMETRIC™ Team Aims for Triple Win at Offsite Awards

30th June 2022

Following the announcement of the 2022 Offsite Award finalists, specialist manufacturers of bespoke modular housing solutions, VOLUMETRIC™ have once again beaten off tough competition from across the construction industry, this year landing...

McAvoy Announces Multi-Million-Pound Investment Programme to Create one of the Newest Modular Fleets in the UK and Ireland

30th June 2022

McAvoy, which was acquired by certain funds managed by Blantyre Capital in February 2020, has announced a substantial investment to expand its modular fleet with a new 'SmartSpace' product range. The investment will more than double...

Stelling Properties Proud to Become Members of Make Modular

28th June 2022

Stelling Properties are pleased to announce that they have become members of Make Modular. Make Modular is the newly formed voice of modular housing and represents the most advanced form of housing construction in the UK. Make...

Ibstock Factory Visits Prove Vital for Aquarian Cladding Systems

28th June 2022

Aquarian Cladding Systems has always prided itself on being more than just a supplier – and team visits to a range of Ibstock PLC factories over the past month proved both exciting and invaluable. The specialist external...

MetStructures and Build to Rent (BTR)

28th June 2022

Build to Rent (BTR) now accounts for 1 in 4 new build residential units in the UK. By all accounts the sector looks set for continued growth and the long-term investment models driving BTR provide shelter...

Flagship Zero Carbon Home uses Reflective Membrane Technology to Deliver Energy Efficiency

28th June 2022

A concept house for sustainable living developed by one of the UK's major housebuilders has been installed with reflective, insulating wall membranes from Glidevale Protect to deliver an airtight...

Europe’s Largest 3D Modular Homes Facility to be Built in the UK

28th June 2022

TopHat, a Goldman Sachs-backed housebuilder, is to open Europe's largest modular housing factory in Corby, Northampton. The 650,000 sq. ft facility, equivalent to the size of 11 football pitches, will be capable of...

Sidey Launch New Website

27th June 2022

Illbruck- the Sustainable Solution for a ‘Fabric First’ Approach

27th June 2022

Illbruck is signposting specifiers to the value of using its sustainable solutions for a 'fabric first' approach, to achieve long-term energy efficiency from the outset for their projects. The fabric first approach offers...

Drywall Steel Sections Ltd. Achieves Tremendous Fire Test Results with DrySpec® SFS (LGS)

27th June 2022

Drywall Steel Sections Ltd. (DWSS) is a manufacturer of Light-Gauge Steel Infill and Loadbearing products, Pre-panelised SFS frames, and Drywall products (internal non-loadbearing). Their unique approach in manufacturing these products...

Algeco Secures Place on ESPO Modular Framework

24th June 2022

Algeco UK, formerly Elliott Group Ltd, has secured inclusion onto the ESPO Modular Buildings framework (953) for Lot 1A – Modular Buildings Education (Hire) and Lot 2A – Modular Buildings Healthcare (Hire). The...

Searching for Maximum Efficiency

23rd June 2022

Seismic's platform approach offers a new way for construction, with Sam Stacey, Challenge Director for Transforming Construction at UKRI, saying that it offered: "tangible evidence of what the future of construction looks...

CoreHaus Completes First Modular Homes Manufactured in North East factory

22nd June 2022

The first steel-framed modular homes manufactured at the CoreHaus factory were recently delivered, assembled and completed on a new homes site in the North East. The County Durham-based company has handed over four...

M-AR Strengthens its Supply Chain with TDSG Partnership

22nd June 2022

Offsite manufacturer and contractor M-AR has forged strong links with one of its key specialist suppliers, TDSG, who collectively provide structural engineering and steel detailing services...

The Innovative Alternative to Traditional Timber Frame Walls

16th June 2022

ITW Construction Products Offsite, using their proven method of Customer-Back Innovation and listening to market challenges, have created a brand new industry solution – Gang-Nail Truss Frame*. Known as the innovative alternative...

Offsite Solutions, the UK’s Leading Bathroom Pod Manufacturer, has been Awarded a £4.2m Contract by Midgard

15th June 2022

Offsite Solutions, the UK's leading bathroom pod manufacturer, has been appointed by principal contractor Midgard to provide 839 bathroom and shower pods for a new £260m build-to-rent neighbourhood now under construction for Moda Living in...

Premier Modular Provides Decant Classrooms on Top of Another Modular Structure as Part of a School Redevelopment

15th June 2022

Premier Modular, one of the UK's leading offsite specialists, has delivered a highly unusual project to provide decant teaching facilities at Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary...

Powering Offsite with Digital Technology

14th June 2022

Richard Hipkiss, Development Director for the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA), discusses the role digital technology plays as offsite construction rapidly becomes a preferred delivery model. The government and the...

£1.5m Investment Increases Offsite Manufacturing Capacity at NTS

10th June 2022

National Timber Systems (NTS) has increased its offsite manufacturing capacity through a £1.5m investment.

UK Government Introduces Restrictions for Timber in Mid-rise Buildings' External Walls

10th June 2022

Timber wall systems will need to pass a large-scale fire safety tests before they can be used on medium-rise residential blocks in England under building...

MTX Secures Two Hospital Expansion Projects in North-West

6th June 2022

MMC healthcare specialist, MTX, has been awarded two hospital expansion projects at the Royal Bolton Hospital and Clatterbridge Hospital MMC will reduce...

Modular Construction Emits 45% Less Carbon than Traditional Methods

6th June 2022

Study by academics found 28,000 tonnes of carbon were saved on two schemes in London.

Designed to Perform - Built to Last

6th June 2022

Against intense competition MODULHAUS™, a new concept in volumetric modular interim homes, was crowned 'Winner of Winners' at the 2021 Offsite Awards. With house prices and rent costs increasing, how can this innovative approach help ease...

Driving Design Efficiency in Offsite

30th May 2022

Prefab construction utilizes off-site manufacturing — a method that is far faster than the equivalent of the on-site building process. This is due to the enclosed and controlled factory environment, the ability to coordinate and...

Premier Modular Appoints Its First Corporate strategy Director

26th May 2022

Premier Modular, one of the UK's leading offsite specialists, has appointed Lee Young as Corporate Strategy Director to develop its strategy and capabilities for the delivery of its ambitious growth plans.

Creative Control - British Offsite

24th May 2022

British Offsite offers a range of solutions to the complexities of modern housebuilding by utilising best in class modern methods of construction (MMC) alongside traditional construction techniques. After completing over 600 homes this year, in...

Sika - High Performance Products And Technical Customer Support

23rd May 2022

Designed to prevent fire spread by containing it within defined compartments, passive fire protection is crucial to saving lives and minimising damage. As a leading global building products manufacturer, Sika provides a comprehensive range of...

Maximising The Modular Market

20th May 2022

2021 was a pivotal year for Modular Group Investments Limited (MGI) that saw it become one of the fastest-growing players in modular construction, having acquired three businesses already. CEO Nick Cowley looks back over the year’s...

Greencore Construction Gain Huge M&G Investment

20th May 2022

M&G plc has acquired a majority stake in sustainable housebuilder Greencore Construction on behalf of policyholders in its £143billion Prudential with Profits Fund. The investment will help Greencore to significantly expand its...

New Approaches To Foundations For Modular Construction

19th May 2022

With increasing demand to build on Brownfield sites, piled foundations are on the rise – but with a difference. Due to the need for piled foundations, Brownfield sites often reduce project viability as builders often default...

LSFA Launch Light Steel Technology Validation Guide

18th May 2022

Developed by the Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA) – the Technology Validation Guide outlines accreditations that certify system performance, robust testing protocols and informative guidelines to support those manufacturing and...

Premier Modular Delivers First Phase of a New Modular Campus at Canada Water

17th May 2022

Premier Modular, one of the UK's leading offsite specialists, has delivered a £2.6m contract to provide a bespoke, sustainable higher education facility at Canada Water in London.

Six firms appointed to £600m social housing offsite framework

17th May 2022

Alliance of housing providers choses firms to provide panelised systems for 5,000 new build...

Modern Methods Of Recruitment

17th May 2022

Venatu Recruitment Group are leading the charge to transform the offsite recruitment landscape. James Shepherd, Divisional Manager, shares his insights into the challenges for 2022. With six UK locations, and plans to develop...

Offsite Solutions Delivers Final Bathroom Pods For £3.2M Contract For Berkeley Homes

16th May 2022

Offsite Solutions, the UK's leading bathroom pod specialist, has delivered the final pods for a £3.2m contract to manufacture luxury bathrooms for its second Berkeley Homes residential scheme.

How to accelerate the move to modern methods of construction (MMC)

16th May 2022

The triple impact of the ever-increasing sustainability agenda, skills shortages, and the rising cost of materials calls for the construction industry to take modern methods of construction (MMC) seriously, Lee Wingate, associate director at McBains...

Architectural And Aesthetic

16th May 2022

Lewisham Exchange is a triumph for offsite construction and Mechslip technology and highlights the many strengths that brick slip systems offer design teams. The construction site has changed dramatically over the years, with...

Powerproject underpins Willmott Dixon’s move to modern off-site manufacturing techniques

15th May 2022

Willmott Dixon is pioneering off-site manufacturing techniques nationally after winning awards for its prefabricated construction of the University of Warwick's...

Coalition of Leading Industry Bodies Join Forces to Develop UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard

13th May 2022

A cross-industry steering group, representing stakeholders across the built environment, have joined together to develop a Standard for verifying UK buildings as net zero carbon.

Homes England vows to keep working with ‘innovative partners’ after Urban Splash JV collapse

13th May 2022

Administrators say 160 positions will be made redundant as modular business part-owned by Homes England enters administration.

Promoting Tried And Trusted

13th May 2022

Lee Jones, Head of Manufacturing Solutions at NBS outlines why marketing in the era of the ‘Code for Construction Product Information’ may be unlike any other era for construction information and benefit both manufacturers and specifiers...

M-AR delivers lean green transport hub for Leeds

12th May 2022

Specialist offsite contractor M-AR has created an environmentally-friendly terminus building for the first fully solar-powered park and ride facility in the UK.

1,000 energy-efficient homes to benefit South West residents

12th May 2022

People across Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset will benefit from a new partnership to build more energy-efficient homes for rent and ownership

Decarbonising Project Design

12th May 2022

As a core material to construction, concrete is under pressure to provide details on its sustainability credentials and accelerate the drive to net zero carbon. As an aid to this aim, Britain’s concrete producers have joined...

Vision Modular Systems wins prestigious award at world’s largest modular event

11th May 2022

Vision Modular Systems has won the prestigious "Excellence in Innovation" award at this year's Awards of Distinction at the World of Modular Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The company, which has seen sustained...

Working At Change

11th May 2022

A recent report issued by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Experian that covers the period 2021-2025 highlighted the need for an extra 217,000 workers in the construction sector. This equates to 43,000 workers per year...

Moving Healthcare Where Needed

10th May 2022

The design team that developed the temporary NHS Nightingale Emergency Hospitals at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, oversaw the completion of the first of 40 community NHS diagnostic centres opening in England. ...

Bryden Wood are expanding their service delivery across numerous sectors in the USA and Canada.

10th May 2022

Bryden Wood are strengthening their presence in the US by opening a new headquarters in Boston, MA, in the coming weeks. Bryden Wood...

Modular school building delivers on space and aesthetics

10th May 2022

Gartree High School appointed modular provider Wernick to supply a standalone building to accommodate an increase in students. Gartree required a seamless transition with minimal intervention from teaching staff and timely student...

Bringing Accuracy To Offsite

9th May 2022

Offsite construction provides many benefits and at its core is the need for accuracy. Nick Milestone, Operations Director at Sigmat explains why Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a perfect partner for factory-based design. ...

Makeover For Historic Pub

6th May 2022

De Matos Ryan architects have transformed the Grade II listed Alice Hawthorn pub and restaurant using homegrown timber and sustainable design. Named after a famous 19th Century racehorse, The Alice Hawthorn is the village...

Building New Homes And Meeting Climate Targets

5th May 2022

AIMCH recently concluded that using sustainably sourced timber panelised methods could transform housing delivery. Stewart Dalgarno, AIMCH Project Director explains more. The end of the UN’s climate change conference COP26...

Recycle And Reuse

4th May 2022

Sustainable sourcing is essential at every level, and alongside energy efficiency policies and new regulations, pressure remains on the construction sector to continue to improve its building methods and product choices. 2022 sees...

Maximising Offsite Industry Exposure

3rd May 2022

Following the unprecedented success of the 2021 event, the Offsite Construction Awards returns later this year and will take place at Offsite Expo 2022 – the UK’s largest offsite technology event in the construction calendar. ...

The Wee House Company Commissioned To Build Its Biggest Wee House Yet Measuring In At 215 Sq m

3rd May 2022

The Wee House Company Ltd has just embarked upon its largest Wee House to date, a 4 bedroom bespoke build home measuring 215 sq m - almost nine times the size of a Studio Wee...

Panelised construction systems spell the future of MMC

3rd May 2022

Georgina Bignold, director at Proctor & Matthews Architects, explains how panelised construction systems are bringing new levels of design versatility to MMC housing, taking the industry to the next level

Realising Offsite's Huge Potential

29th April 2022

As offsite manufacture continues to make advances in construction thinking, Government ambitions regarding offsite are not being met, argues Guto Davies, Head of Policy at the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE). In...

EOS – Simplifying Specification and Procurement

29th April 2022

Architects and housebuilders are under increased pressure to develop safer residential buildings on fast-track construction schedules whilst still achieving outstanding building performance. Here Steve Thompson, Managing Director of EOS...

How the UK Construction Industry Can Embrace MMC Homes

29th April 2022

In an era of materials and skills shortages, a global shift towards sustainability and new notions around the ideal workplace, MMC stands out as a construction method that can adapt to new demands. But how can the UK fully embrace MMC homes? This...

The Adaptable Interim Housing Solution

28th April 2022

VOLUMETRIC™ has been working with many sectors to address accommodation needs. From safe and secure living for homeless people to onsite accommodation for keyworkers – MODULHAUS™ can be configured to meet various requirements....

Living with Low Carbon

28th April 2022

The Underwood is a project in Greenwich, south London, that showcases how offsite manufacture can deliver net zero carbon affordable houses for local people on time and to budget. Demonstrating how the delivery of offsite...

Caledonian Hit By Crippling Cyber Attack Just Days Before It Sank Into Administration

28th April 2022

Administrator's report says assault on offsite specialist significantly 'reduced company's operating capability' Offsite specialist Caledonian Modular was hit by a catastrophic cyber attack less than two weeks before it sank...

Future of Modular Construction | Barriers to MMC Adoption Prevail, Despite Proven Benefits

28th April 2022

From small residential buildings to major infrastructure projects, modern methods of construction (MMC) – offsite manufacturing and new onsite techniques – have been making a positive impact on productivity. Cost and time savings resulting...

Caledonian Went Down Owing Suppliers and Clients £20m

28th April 2022

Offsite giant Caledonian Modular fell into administration owing more than £11m in now-worthless invoices to a host of subcontractors and suppliers. A number of clients are also listed as unsecured...

Outsource The Hassle Of Drainage

27th April 2022

Ross Bates, Assistant Product Manager – drainage at Geberit, explores why prefabricated drainage systems provide the perfect solution for modular bathrooms. Building...

Frameworks In Action

27th April 2022

Boho 8 – the most recent phase of Middlesbrough’s Boho Zone – is the location for the town’s digital and creative sectors and has seen modular methods transform the area. Previously a car park, the £2.5million project,...

Modular builder wins £100m London hotel and office build

27th April 2022

Offsite Modular specialist Elements Europe has won the role of main contractor on a £100m central London hotel and office. Elements Europe will build a 17-storey volumetric modular Motel One hotel, with five storeys of offices...

Modernising The UK's Approach To Housing Delivery

26th April 2022

Construction in general and housebuilding in particular will play a vital role in the UK’s post-pandemic recovery, but as Darren Richards, Managing Director at Cogent Consulting, points out – a strong backing is required to champion...

Redefining MMC

25th April 2022

David Robins, Head of Central Technical Services at Places for People, explores just what MMC processes are at hand to housebuilders looking to create new homes at scale –and why he believes a construction mix is the key to the...

Shifting Perceptions On MMC

22nd April 2022

Will 2022 be the year we see a real shift toward the use of MMC in residential developments? Tim Reid, Customer Relationship Director, at NHBC sees a range of opportunities ahead. Recent discussions and anecdotal examples from...

Volumetric modular technology: Eliminating waste and maximising resource efficiency

22nd April 2022

As the UK looks to "build back better", Richard Hipkiss, development director of the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) raises the thorny issue of reducing landfill waste and improving material optimisation According to...

Leading The Way For A Better Planet

21st April 2022

Environmental issues have never been as ingrained into the national and global consciousness as they are right now, and Scotland is leading the way in instigating and inspiring real change in how we tackle climate change. Scotland hosted the United...

Modular Methods Really Do Matter

21st April 2022

The Modular Matters conference and exhibition returned for its fourth year as a two-day event on 15 & 16 February 2022 at the National Conference Centre (NCC), Birmingham. What went on and what were the key messages? Modular...

PVC-U – The Sustainable Product Choice

21st April 2022

2022 sees changes to Part L of the Building Regulations come into force in June, and any new homes will have to produce 31% lower carbon emissions. This is ahead of the introduction of the Future...

Volumetric Manufactured Buildings Deliver a Net Zero Future

20th April 2022

Is the road to a net zero future a well mapped out route or is there uncertainty along the way? Richard Hipkiss, Development Director of the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) makes the case for volumetric buildings shaping a...

MORRISON HELPS PASSIVHAUS TRUST WITH STEEL GUIDANCE

19th April 2022

Morrison Construction is strengthening its links with the Passivhaus Trust, as part of a steering group helping to develop new ways of adapting the carbon-reducing principles of Passivhaus to steel-frame...

New Acquisition for Premier Forest Products

19th April 2022

Leading UK timber importer, Newport-based Premier Forest Products has announced the completion of a deal to acquire fellow South Wales timber company Monmouthshire Timber Supplies. Established in 1974, Mon Timber becomes the latest brand to...

Spacesaving Soulutions

19th April 2022

How can pod and modular bathroom manufacturers ensure efficiency and cost savings across bathroom projects without compromising on space or style? The prominence of bathroom and washroom spaces continues to grow. In residential...

Premier Modular Is Awarded Europe’s First ESG Certification

19th April 2022

Premier Modular, one of the UK's leading offsite construction specialists, has been awarded Europe's first ESG certification. Following a rigorous independent audit conducted by global testing,...

MMC: An Innovative Solution for Social Housing in the UK

19th April 2022

Over 1m households are waiting for social housing in the UK, yet far more of these homes are sold or demolished every year than are built. Amid cost and supply crunches for housebuilding, could Modern Methods of Construction offer a way to...

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