A new Family Resilience and High Needs Centre in North Birkbeck, London, has been completed by leading offsite manufacturer McAvoy, to meet London Borough of Waltham Forest’s needs to support vulnerable children. McAvoy delivered The Birkbeck Centre in just 20 weeks from installation of the first module, using offsite manufacturing
It may be a case of ‘school’s out’ for pupils across the country at the moment but when they return on September 4th, many in Northamptonshire will be walking through the doors of one of the most modern learning facilities in the UK. Algeco UK has completed its Northampton School
Alsecco UK has become a member of the Offsite Alliance to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the built environment. The Offsite Alliance is a forward-thinking community of businesses dedicated to transforming the construction industry through offsite manufacturing and modern methods of construction (MMC). As a specialist in
Daniel Paterson, Director of Policy Make UK Modular said: “Make UK Modular warmly welcomes the proposed changes that the Government makes to the National Planning Policy Framework today – they will help deliver more truly affordable homes across the country. The reintroduction and strengthening of housing targets and the firming-up
Leading offsite manufacturer McAvoy has recently delivered a new temporary classroom facility at The Bromfords Secondary School in Wickford, which was awarded through the Offsite Construction Solutions framework. It marks the latest in a series of projects aimed at addressing emergency school closures due to the prevalence of Reinforced Autoclaved
More than 100 keen golfers across 25 teams descended on Worsley Park for the Algeco Manchester Golf Day – raising a magnificent £55,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK in the process. Ronald McDonald House Charities UK was established in 1989 and there are now 14 facilities close to specialist
Stelling Properties has reached a major construction milestone to restore a historic site in the centre of Southampton. The installation phase for all 121 studio apartments, which were manufactured and fully fitted out offsite, has now been completed on-site. 31 High Street is a landmark project which is bringing a
David Connacher, Marketing Manager at West Fraser, discusses the products on offer to the MMC market. What is MMC and does it account for a significant proportion of building activity? The phrase ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ has been with us for three decades now, though you could trace the building
The UK construction industry is set to experience a shift in thinking with the September launch of Offsite Construction Week (OCW) – an unprecedented collaboration amongst leading industry pioneers and associations. Organisers of the influential Offsite Expo and Offsite Awards have partnered with industry leaders with the specific goal of
Building Better, the National Housing Federation-supported group of housing associations and councils working to increase the use of modern methods of construction (MMC), has added a new manufacturer to its MMC Category 1 framework. Building Better and Procurement for Housing (PfH) have signed up ZED PODS to their volumetric framework,
A new Family Resilience and High Needs Centre in North Birkbeck, London, has been completed by leading offsite manufacturer McAvoy, to meet London Borough of Waltham Forest’s needs to support vulnerable children. McAvoy delivered The Birkbeck Centre in just 20 weeks from installation of the first module, using offsite manufacturing methods. The new 1,588 m2 centre will serve as a valuable resource for the Youth Offending Service. The centre will also provide family therapy and restorative justice programmes. The two-storey building features a sports hall constructed using a steel frame, café, kitchen, general teaching spaces, break out spaces, construction skills workshop, medical room, art rooms, and a music suite. The exterior of the centre also includes carefully planned landscaping and ample parking spaces. Students will receive counselling and therapy alongside essential subjects like Maths and English. Wider training and skills will also be offered in construction, catering, computer technology, music recording and production. Cahal Cunning, Senior Contracts Manager at McAvoy, said: “Delivering essential buildings quickly to support the council’s broader plan for youth offending rehabilitation and educational facilities is key to supporting those in need in the area. By choosing high quality offsite manufacturing, combined with our team who are specialists in the design and build of community and education facilities, we have enabled the quick turnaround of projects for Waltham Forest. This approach meets the urgent demand for safe and nurturing environments for vulnerable young people, fostering positive growth and development. “This is our second project with Waltham Forest London Borough Council within the last year and is testament to the increasing confidence in offsite manufacturing and its ability to deliver high quality, sustainable buildings that are fit for the future.” Earlier this year, McAvoy completed an extension of Kelmscott Primary School in Walthamstow, East London. The design and build included a main two-storey school building alongside a separate special educational needs building with a green roof and solar PV, addressing the critical need for 900 school places in the area. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
It may be a case of ‘school’s out’ for pupils across the country at the moment but when they return on September 4th, many in Northamptonshire will be walking through the doors of one of the most modern learning facilities in the UK. Algeco UK has completed its Northampton School project just 18 months on from winning the contract to the final pieces of equipment being put into place. This is the biggest school build ever undertaken by Algeco UK, which was secured through the MMC Framework for the Department of Education (DfE). Northampton School will eventually accommodate a total of 1,200 boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 18 from across Northamptonshire. Algeco is well-known as a market-leading supplier of portable and modular buildings across the UK and Europe used in multiple sectors including the Ministry of Justice, schools, hospitals and office locations. The buildings at the new Northampton School were created utilising modern methods of construction in a quality-controlled offsite environment, ensuring the highest standards of workmanship and Health and Safety. Algeco developed the project through a two-phase approach following the receipt of the DfE’s feasibility developing the design in collaboration with the school and all stakeholders, achieving planning permission prior to manufacturing utilising an MMC approach, where the school is manufactured in modules and taken to site following completion. This method means the build was completed in just 18 months, rather than typically three years for a traditionally built structure. Algeco experts started laying the foundations in January 2023. A total of 210 modules were created at the company’s factory in Carnaby and transported by road to the Northampton site. The company also provided temporary decant classrooms while the main building was being constructed as well as all the construction site welfare and associated services. The school is a £28 million state-school project run by the Northampton School for Boys (NSB) Academy Trust. The school will be a state-of-the-art facility for the teaching of secondary school pupils with dedicated sports, drama, science, music rooms and much more. The new school will be open for pupil intake for the first time on Thursday September 4th with Year 8 students the first to start lessons. The following day welcomes Year 7. All pupils will be straight into their regular school schedules thereafter. Phil Pavey, Managing Director at Algeco Offsite Solutions (OSS), said: “This is one of the most exciting projects Algeco UK has worked on – planning and constructing a series of buildings to ensure the students of Northampton have the best possible education has been very motivational for all of us. “We sincerely hope the new Northampton School is a place where teachers and students alike will find a welcoming and inspirational environment, as well as being a fantastic focal point in the community.” Gary Greenhoff, Algeco Offsite Solutions (OSS) Project Manager, said: “Using modular construction means this facility is ready much faster than traditional methods, and the flexibility it offers means the school has everything it could want and much more.” He added: “I’m immensely proud of the school, everyone has worked very hard to make this an amazing facility for the people of Northamptonshire. There have been a few challenges along the way, including the heavy rain this springtime, but we overcame them all and are ready to hand the school over to the teachers and pupils ready for term-time in September.” Algeco UK wanted to thank all the 137 staff and contractors involved in the project over the 18-month build. In particular, the company wanted to credit the following: Sean Brind, Contract Manager; Abbass Mahmood, Senior Quantity Surveyor; Gary Greenhoff, Project Manager; Alison Orme, Design Manager; Ashley James, Head of Design; Mike Swain, Site Manager; and Harrison Parkin, Assistant Site Manager. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Alsecco UK has become a member of the Offsite Alliance to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the built environment. The Offsite Alliance is a forward-thinking community of businesses dedicated to transforming the construction industry through offsite manufacturing and modern methods of construction (MMC). As a specialist in efficient, low-carbon building envelope technologies, Alsecco’s expertise in offsite-manufactured façade systems aligns with the ambitious aims of the Offsite Alliance. These include no lesser goal than to create a transformed construction industry, with productivity, innovation, and sustainability at its heart, streamlined in all its processes, loved by the masses, and exciting to the next generation. Dean Broughton, Managing Director of Alsecco UK, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “Joining the Offsite Alliance represents a significant step forward for Alsecco. “We believe that offsite construction is key to addressing the challenges facing our industry, including the need for faster, more efficient, and sustainable building practices. By collaborating with like-minded organisations within the Alliance, we aim to drive innovation and contribute to the wider adoption of MMC across the UK.” The membership in the Offsite Alliance will provide Alsecco with valuable opportunities to engage with industry leaders, share best practices, and participate in collaborative projects that push the boundaries of offsite construction. This aligns with the company’s ongoing efforts to develop cutting-edge façade solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into offsite manufacturing processes. Broughton added: “As part of the Offsite Alliance, we look forward to sharing our expertise in building envelope technologies and learning from other members. This knowledge exchange will not only benefit Alsecco but also contribute to the advancement of the entire construction sector towards more sustainable and efficient practices.” Gaynor Tennant, founder and Chair of the Offsite Alliance, commented: “We work alongside leading organisations, industry bodies, and the government to raise awareness of the opportunity for a more efficient and sustainable construction industry and increase the uptake and delivery of offsite construction methods. “Alsecco’s joining strengthens the Alliance’s collective expertise, particularly in the crucial area of building envelopes and energy efficiency. As the construction industry continues to evolve, partnerships like this will play a vital role in driving innovation, improving productivity, and addressing the pressing need for low-environmental-impact, high-quality housing and infrastructure in the UK. So, we are delighted to have Alsecco on board” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Daniel Paterson, Director of Policy Make UK Modular said: “Make UK Modular warmly welcomes the proposed changes that the Government makes to the National Planning Policy Framework today – they will help deliver more truly affordable homes across the country. The reintroduction and strengthening of housing targets and the firming-up of rules around green belt land is both overdue and necessary. “Yet even with the creditable changes being proposed today, the UK will need to use every available tool in its box, including manufactured building techniques, to build sufficient truly affordable homes at the pace our nation so badly needs. We need a growth in manufactured house building if we are to address the growing chasm in available construction skills, reverse the impact of a collapse in the number of SME builders, and ensure that the homes we build today will not need retrofitting tomorrow.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading offsite manufacturer McAvoy has recently delivered a new temporary classroom facility at The Bromfords Secondary School in Wickford, which was awarded through the Offsite Construction Solutions framework. It marks the latest in a series of projects aimed at addressing emergency school closures due to the prevalence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). Using advanced offsite manufacturing capabilities and featuring its innovative temporary SmartClass® solution, McAvoy delivered a comprehensive solution to meet the school’s urgent need for classroom space. Within eight weeks, the temporary classroom facility was installed and handed over, offering a sustainable, adaptable, and safe environment for students and staff. McAvoy manufactured 42 SmartClass® modules at its 70,000 sq ft, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, with a significant proportion of the work being completed offsite. All 42 modules were installed over the course of five days. The two-storey facility, comprising six classrooms, two offices, shower and changing rooms and WCs on the ground floor, along with an additional eight classrooms and three offices on the second floor, was designed to meet the educational needs of the students and staff. Navigating the challenges posed by the school’s location within a residential area with narrow streets, McAvoy implemented a robust traffic control system to facilitate the swift and disruption-free installation of the modules. As the site was within the grounds of the existing school, McAvoy created a separate site entrance to further minimise disruption. Given the urgency from the closure of classrooms due to RAAC, McAvoy’s expedited manufacturing and installation process paved the way for the quick execution of the project. In addition to The Bromfords School project, McAvoy has recently delivered similar temporary SmartClass® solutions at educational settings across the UK, including Kingsdown School in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, Parks Primary School in Leicester, and Hockley Primary School in Essex. These projects, commissioned by the Department for Education, were instrumental in providing interim accommodation for staff and students during emergency closures due to RAAC. Glen Busby, Director of Modular Rental & Sales at McAvoy, commented, “Delivering swift and reliable temporary space solutions for schools facing emergency closures is key to ensuring the continuity of education and the safety of students and staff. Our commitment to using advanced offsite manufacturing techniques, exemplified by projects like The Bromfords School, allows us to respond quickly to challenges like these. We are proud to support educational institutions across the UK with adaptable temporary and permanent modular solutions that meet their evolving needs.” Chris King, Trust Business Manager at The Bromfords School, said: “We were impressed with McAvoy’s whole site management and excellent communication to keep us updated throughout. The use of modular construction benefited this project due to the speed of completion, and we were also able to continue with our teaching and learning while the project was underway. Any challenges were quickly resolved, and the team planned well around our normal school day to limit disruption. This included arranging deliveries around quieter periods, to reflect that the use of the main entrance needed to be used by both construction workers and our students. The overall impression of the temporary classroom facility is that it will benefit our students with its large, spacious and bright areas.” For more information on McAvoy Group, please visit: www.mcavoygroup.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
More than 100 keen golfers across 25 teams descended on Worsley Park for the Algeco Manchester Golf Day – raising a magnificent £55,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK in the process. Ronald McDonald House Charities UK was established in 1989 and there are now 14 facilities close to specialist NHS children’s hospitals around the country. They are designed to be a ‘home away from home’ for the families of children staying at hospital, providing free accommodation and emotional support at what is often the toughest time for a family. Incredibly this week’s event raised enough for the equivalent of 1,571 nights of accommodation for families with children in hospital. Last year alone, the charity supported 8,415 families, who stayed for an average of 16 nights and were on average 68 miles away from their home. Algeco UK is a leading modular buildings, temporary accommodation and storage container provider, delivering construction expertise to diverse sectors including schools, hospitals, office locations and many more. The company is a longstanding partner of McDonald’s, who are the charity’s founding and forever partner. Since 1989, McDonald’s and its franchisees have raised more than £100 million for the charity, which goes towards the running and building of Ronald McDonald Houses across the UK. Algeco UK has provided McDonald’s with offsite build solutions since 2010 and has constructed more than 220 new stores using its modular retail construction process. This includes McDonald’s Market Drayton, which was notably the UK’s first carbon net zero restaurant (using the UKGBC’s net zero carbon buildings framework) and the two-storey Drive-Thru restaurant in North Acton, London, also the first of its kind in the UK. As a key partner to McDonald’s, Algeco UK has grown to be a long-standing supporter of its house charity. Earlier this year, the marketing team from Algeco UK attended Ronald McDonald House Birmingham, donating their time to help keep the 65 bedrooms, communal kitchens and living room spaces clean for people with children in hospital. Now, the company has stepped up as head sponsor of the annual Manchester Golf fundraising event, having supported this for many years already. Other key names that joined as an event sponsor include Coca-Cola, Scania, True Refrigeration, EnviraClad, Trent Construction Services, BW Industries and RJ Coleman Electrical. Paul Beard, Senior Design Manager at Algeco, explained: “The work Ronald McDonald House Charities UK does is fantastic. Many of us have children and we know that if a child goes into hospital, it is important to have family close by. To Algeco it’s close to our hearts and we are delighted to support it in this way.” At the event Algeco entered eight teams in total – four featuring Algeco OSS staff, a further team with staff from Algeco Hire, and three more teams on behalf of partners and suppliers. Other entrants consisted of key McDonalds partner’s, suppliers and sub-contractors. Tony Morton, Director of Income Generation at Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, said: “Our huge thanks go to all at Algeco UK, for their support of an amazing day of golf and fundraising. Their significant contribution is greatly appreciated and the money raised will make such a difference to families going through the most difficult times imaginable.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stelling Properties has reached a major construction milestone to restore a historic site in the centre of Southampton. The installation phase for all 121 studio apartments, which were manufactured and fully fitted out offsite, has now been completed on-site. 31 High Street is a landmark project which is bringing a fire-damaged building back to life after it remained derelict for more than a decade. The Portland stone façade of the former Bank of England building has been restored and other parts of the original building have been retained including the historic bank vaults in the basement. The development represents a £12m investment by Stelling to regenerate this prominent site on Southampton High Street whilst helping to meet the critical undersupply of student accommodation in the city. The five-storey scheme will provide 121 high-specification, self-contained studio apartments which will be operated by Unilife and are due for completion later this year. Steel-framed, 8m long modules, each weighing up to 12 tonnes, contained a single apartment and arrived on site finished, with kitchenettes, shower rooms, fitted and loose furniture, flooring, doors, and glazing already in place. These were lifted into position over a six-week installation phase and using a 230-tonne crane. Dan Smith, COO of Stelling Properties, said: “This high-profile project follows another modular student scheme that we have already delivered on Southampton High Street, and we are about to start a third. These developments are an important part of the regeneration of the city centre. “31 High Street has been a hugely challenging and constrained site to develop. It demonstrates the enormous potential of offsite construction and our technical capabilities very well. The site is completely enclosed on three sides, which would have been extremely difficult for in-situ construction as there is no storage space for plant, materials or equipment.” “This is a locally listed building in a Conservation Area but with a fantastic modular design developed by our inhouse team and the retained Portland stone façade, it will blend sympathetically into the locality. “Speed of construction was absolutely critical to reduce disruption in the city centre. By manufacturing and fully fitting out the apartments offsite, we reduced time on site by around 50 per cent. The tremendous progress so far is a real credit to our design, production and site teams.” To complement the local architecture and reflect the heritage aesthetic of the retained façade, the studio apartments will be finished in light stone-coloured external cladding. The final phase of construction will include mechanical and electrical connections on site, fitting out the extensive social and amenity spaces for residents in the original retained part of the building, roofing works, solar panel installations and landscaping of a large roof terrace. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
David Connacher, Marketing Manager at West Fraser, discusses the products on offer to the MMC market. What is MMC and does it account for a significant proportion of building activity? The phrase ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ has been with us for three decades now, though you could trace the building methodology back to the early examples of prefabrication; products such as timber roof trusses and precast concrete panels were constructed offsite. Today’s MMC really started to gain traction in the ‘90’s, mainly through the increased number of timber frame systems, many of them from Europe or Scandinavia, being used for housebuilding. Greater emphasis on improving energy performance, as well as reducing waste in the building industry, is pushing more developers towards using MMC or ‘Offsite’ building techniques and the Scottish Government is in the process of making it mandatory for all new homes. What categories of MMC do West Fraser products get used for? While there are still some companies supplying basic ‘Open’ timber frame systems, ever more are moving to offering ‘Closed Cell’ alternatives which feature a sheathing board and factory-fitted insulation in the cavity which saves time on site for the builder. Then there are more advanced components including flooring cassettes and roof cassettes, or complete room-in-the-roof modules, which can be craned onto both new-build and existing wall structures. These could use high performance panel products for the floors, fixed to rafters as sarking boards, or to clad the cheeks of dormer windows. In addition, SIPs or Structural Insulated Panel systems, with their own association, are increasingly popular due to their high standards of airtightness as well as thermal insulation. SIPs normally feature a substantial thickness of expanded foam insulation between two layers of a timber-based board product. Why do offsite manufacturers choose West Fraser board products over those of rival suppliers? There is a couple of basic commercial considerations as to why manufacturers choose to buy their panel products from West Fraser, including price and availability; yet, for many regular customers it comes down to a combination of technical factors. Amongst these, quality and dimensional accuracy crop up most often in comments from leading manufacturers, both because they have built their businesses on ensuring clients have no concerns about the speed of installation and alignment on sites, and also because they are using highly automated production lines where irregular sizes or structural weakness can cause costly problems. Basically, West Fraser boards are produced under similarly stringent processes in a modern plant; complying to very high tolerances and can be relied on to cut cleanly when computer-controlled saws, routers or even laser cutters are being operated. Also, once in use, the different boards will offer the required racking strength (sheathing boards), spanning capacity (flooring), impact strength or all-round durability. Which West Fraser boards feature in MMC systems? Several of the company’s tried-and-tested panel products have become firm favourites with manufacturers across the offsite industry, utilised for a wide variety of MMC systems including closed panel production, SIPs and modular solutions. They include SterlingOSB Zero which is bought by a number of SIPs companies who commend it for the dimensional accuracy as it would stick out like the proverbial sore thumb if the opposite faces of the insulated sandwich panel didn’t match up. CaberFloor P5 and CaberDek also feature fully amongst companies specialising in floor cassettes and larger modules, used as a surface which can be left exposed or covered with carpet and other flooring finishes. Are there any other special applications which count as MMC? Thanks to social media as well as its extensive distributor network, West Fraser is becoming aware of new and often increasingly sophisticated applications for its products every week. Recent examples amongst these include the WikiHouse system which has been developed by Open Systems Lab in consultation with Imperial College – and which makes use of SterlingOSB Zero to fabricate a series of hollow beams, wall blocks and other components. These have been designed so that they can be made in relatively small workshops for the construction of low-rise housing. And, interestingly, it was the material’s shear strength which persuaded the company to switch from the imported plywood material originally trialled. Then for companies who specialise in supplying fully fitted modular homes, rather like some mobile homes, CaberMDF is widely preferred for manufacturing fitted furniture as well as deeply routed items like the doors for kitchen cabinets. Basically, if you live in a modern home, there is a strong chance you are surrounded by West Fraser board products. For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK construction industry is set to experience a shift in thinking with the September launch of Offsite Construction Week (OCW) – an unprecedented collaboration amongst leading industry pioneers and associations. Organisers of the influential Offsite Expo and Offsite Awards have partnered with industry leaders with the specific goal of inspiring strategic collaboration across the offsite construction sector. A UK first, Offsite Construction Week will bring together clients, manufacturers, developers, architects, specifiers, project managers, legislative and accrediting bodies for a week-long series of events, debates, and discussions on how to accelerate sector growth by removing current barriers to MMC implementation. Uniting industry leaders from different construction and material sectors, the newly-formed Advisory Group will create a set of objectives for successfully expanding the application of offsite construction methods and technologies, ensuring that every stakeholder’s perspective is reflected in the resulting strategy. The Advisory Group comprises 20 of the most well-informed and respected industry figures at the forefront of offsite innovation from pioneering companies and industry bodies. For full details of the Advisory Group, go to: www.offsiteconstructionweek.co.uk/advisory-group Together, these industry leaders will curate the Offsite Expo Masterclasses, roundtable debates and events that take place throughout the five days of Offsite Construction Week. Through a series of practical seminars that share insider knowledge of projects success factors and learnings – speakers will offer solutions to legislative, procurement, procedural, and financial roadblocks to accelerating the pace of implementing offsite methods and products in construction. Key topics to be addressed will include but are not limited to, creating industrialised construction ecosystems, enhancing building safety, increasing productivity, closing the performance gap, driving innovation, digital delivery for tomorrow, creating a zero-snag culture and delivering against net zero carbon targets. On behalf of the Advisory Group, spokesperson Tudi Sully said, “We will act as industry ambassadors for delivering a better built environment, chairing roundtable debates and connecting decision makers from various client organisations, industry bodies, government stakeholders and the supply chain. “By engaging in an open, unbiased and critical debate of current roadblocks to the implementation of approaches such as DfMA, offsite, MMC and industrialisation; showcasing past project challenges and successes; and offering insights from different vertical sectors, the Advisory Group will demonstrate a roadmap for the wider adoption of these innovative solutions. “With the ambitious goal to help accelerate the UK government’s agenda for a safer, more sustainable and faster-growing built environment, the Advisory Group will not only connect top decision makers but will also oversee an educational outreach to young professionals, apprentices and students in construction programmes – all of which will start at Offsite Construction Week.” The Advisory Group’s involvement during Offsite Construction Week will include curating the programme and leading the Masterclass seminars, sharing insights from the organisations they represent and presenting a highly focused, factual overview of the sector and the challenges it faces. Whilst the discussions in the Masterclass Theatre will equip attendees with a well-balanced view of the industry’s roadmap for the future, the Advisory Group will set the tone for a series of live webinars on some of the most pressing issues in the industry. About Offsite Construction Week Taking place from 16-20 September 2024, Offsite Construction Week will showcase the most comprehensive series of offsite technology events ever seen in the UK. The aim of the curated selection of seminars, industry awards ceremony, site tours and features exhibition, is to highlight the benefits and advancements in offsite construction, driving innovation and collaboration across the sector. Unilateral Support Offsite Construction Week is supported by a robust lineup of industry associations, including BUILDOFFSITE (BOS), Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT,) Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA), MMC Ireland, Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA), Offsite Alliance, Steel Construction Institute (SCI), Structural Timber Association (STA) and others have come together to support the most comprehensive series of offsite events the country has ever seen. To keep informed go to: www.offsiteconstructionweek.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building Better, the National Housing Federation-supported group of housing associations and councils working to increase the use of modern methods of construction (MMC), has added a new manufacturer to its MMC Category 1 framework. Building Better and Procurement for Housing (PfH) have signed up ZED PODS to their volumetric framework, which is worth up to £400m over four years. Social housing organisations can procure pre-manufactured 3D construction systems for both houses and apartments from ZED PODS through the deal. ZEDPODS have been appointed to the framework on a direct award basis so housing associations and local authorities won’t need to go through any additional tender process to procure from them. Streamlining MMC contracting in this way saves around £15,000 in procurement costs for each housing organisation. The framework also enables very early engagement with ZED PODS, in a compliant way. When social housing organisations meet with manufacturers right at the start of a project and tap into their design experience to create plans that are right for all parties, this commonly leads to more successful schemes. Founded in 2016, ZED PODS design and build zero-operational-carbon social housing and specialise in delivering turnkey housing solutions using volumetric MMC. ZED PODS’ build system can be used on traditional sites and also constrained brownfield locations such as derelict garage sites, carparks, and flood zones. ZED PODS have delivered award-winning housing schemes for both local authorities and housing associations. They are presently working with 28 public sector organisations to plan and design MMC schemes, and they are currently onsite building zero-operational-carbon social homes in Sheffield, Ashford, Bristol, and across Wales and Devon. All MMC homes procured under the Building Better framework take a fabric-first approach (prioritising insulation ahead of add-ons like solar panels), they meet nationally described space standards (NDSS) and have the option to be wheelchair accessible. They are certified by the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS) and assessed and accepted by building warranty provider ICW Insurance Services. Tony Woods, Technical Manager for Construction & Sustainability at Procurement for Housing (PfH) said: “The quality of ZED PODS’ homes really set them apart in the tender process, as well as their management team and financial position. They manufacture high performance, low carbon houses and flats that exceed the proposed Future Home Standards and the Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021. But it was also the way they involve residents that impressed us. ZED PODS take a proactive approach to engaging early with local communities ahead of construction on site. Tom Northway, Chairman of ZED PODS, said: “We are delighted to have been selected for the Building Better framework and look forward to working with the team and its members to deliver our net zero carbon housing solutions.” In addition to the MMC Category 1 framework, Building Better and PfH also run a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for MMC Category 2 construction systems. Through this DPS, social housing organisations can procure 2D panelised systems, assembled on-site, from over 20 pre-approved manufacturers. For further information about Building Better’s MMC Category 1 framework visit: https://buildingbetter.org.uk/procurement-route/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
