Experts in modular construction are invited to apply for a new framework covering the design, supply, installation and hire of permanent, temporary and refurbished modular buildings for the public sector. The Modular Buildings (MB3) framework has been designed by public sector construction framework provider LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG) to support
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and the Supply Chain Sustainability School have today published a groundbreaking report aimed at addressing the housing crisis through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The report lays out key policy recommendations designed to accelerate the adoption of MMC and deliver high-quality, affordable homes at scale.
20 traditional construction companies and two MMC firms have been appointed to a new build framework, where they will carry out principal contractor duties on social housing offsite projects. The Integrated Traditional Build & MMC framework has been launched by Procurement for Housing (PfH) and Building Better, the National Housing
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
Experts in modular construction are invited to apply for a new framework covering the design, supply, installation and hire of permanent, temporary and refurbished modular buildings for the public sector. The Modular Buildings (MB3) framework has been designed by public sector construction framework provider LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG) to support public sector clients with modular building solutions that emphasise offsite construction and its environmental benefits. As the successor to the MB2 framework, which expires in May 2025, it will be available to use for a wide range of public sector buildings across England, Wales and Scotland through LHCPG’s five regional business units. This includes education facilities, healthcare settings, emergency services, offices, community buildings, and mixed-use developments. Suppliers on the MB3 framework will provide a full turnkey solution, managing all services required for a project from initial design through to final handover. By increasing the focus on offsite construction, MB3 aims to reduce environmental impact, streamline project timelines, and offer cost-effective alternatives to traditional construction methods. Almost £76 million of public sector work has been procured via the MB2 framework to date, and even greater interest is anticipated in MB3 – particularly from sectors facing time-sensitive construction needs. Shona Snow, LHCPG’s director of product innovation, said: “Our MB3 framework will continue to address the demand we are seeing for offsite construction, which not only delivers projects more efficiently but also brings significant environmental benefits. “It will make it easier for public sector clients to procure modular buildings that meet their specific needs across various sectors. “Given the increasing pressure on the public sector to address urgent building requirements, particularly in light of the ongoing RAAC crisis and changes to building safety regulations, we expect strong demand for this framework.” MB3 is set to run until May 2029 to provide long-term opportunities for both suppliers and public sector clients in education, blue light services, healthcare, offices, and leisure facilities. Owing to its flexibility and broad scope, it is designed to support a wide range of public sector projects, delivering high-quality, sustainable modular buildings. As with all LHCPG frameworks, there are social value objectives for MB3 which align with the nature of the framework and partner priorities. Clive Feeney, LHCPG group managing director, said: “Our unique value lies not just in our technical solutions and support, but also in our social value outcomes. “As the only true national framework provider structured and governed around community needs and social value outcomes, we focus on generating positive, lasting impacts on communities. “All companies appointed to MB3 will be supported to deliver and report the social value impact of each project delivered through it.” Places on the framework, which will be split across four workstreams, are available to those specialising in modular construction suitable for public sector applications. Bids will be evaluated on a 70% quality and 30% price basis to ensure both value and expertise are prioritised. Shona added: “As always, we are keen to encourage applications from SMEs and actively try to remove barriers for them through our procurement processes. “We are proud of the fact that four out of five of the 1,266 suppliers appointed to our frameworks in the last ten years have been SMEs.” Throughout the tender submission period applicants can ask questions, and a full tender response pack, templates and guidance information will be available. Suppliers can view and submit their bids to be part of this framework via LHCPG’s Intend portal by 12 noon on 31 October 2024: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/lhc/aspx/ProjectManage/36 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and the Supply Chain Sustainability School have today published a groundbreaking report aimed at addressing the housing crisis through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The report lays out key policy recommendations designed to accelerate the adoption of MMC and deliver high-quality, affordable homes at scale. The report’s development was led by the CLC Housing Working Group’s Smart Construction Sub-Group, which includes representatives from: The report proposes a series of long-term policy goals for the Labour Government to consider, including the creation of a dedicated MMC Taskforce. This taskforce, once convened, would be responsible for developing a comprehensive MMC strategy within six months. The strategy would focus on: Addressing the Housing and Skills Crisis The report identifies MMC as a key solution to the UK’s housing shortage, proposing that the adoption of MMC could counter the current 225,000-person skills gap in construction. With the ability to rapidly scale up housing delivery to meet demand for 300,000 – 500,000 homes annually, MMC offers a pathway to reversing decades of stagnation in the sector, which has seen construction productivity lag behind most other UK industries. Global Lessons and High-Level Targets Drawing on international case studies from countries including Australia, China and Japan, the report emphasises the need for high-level, published MMC targets that link both quantity and quality outcomes. It calls on the UK Government to implement clear, achievable goals that provide the construction industry with the certainty it needs to invest in MMC innovation and growth. The report also supports the National Housing Federation’s call for new towns and settlements to include a mix of housing tenures, with MMC prioritised for its ability to rapidly deliver high-quality, sustainable homes. A Clear Call to Action The CLC is urging the Government to adopt their recommendations, particularly the creation of the MMC Taskforce, as a matter of urgency. By doing so, the UK can tackle its housing shortage, address the construction skills crisis, and deliver environmentally sustainable housing at scale. Rory Bergin, Partner at Sustainable Futures said: “To meet the Government’s target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2029, we need to double housing output and remove barriers that limit productivity. MMC is a key part of this strategy, and the sector has invested heavily in it. Now is the time to build on that progress, modernise housing delivery, and release the benefits of increased productivity, sustainability, and quality.” Access the full report here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
20 traditional construction companies and two MMC firms have been appointed to a new build framework, where they will carry out principal contractor duties on social housing offsite projects. The Integrated Traditional Build & MMC framework has been launched by Procurement for Housing (PfH) and Building Better, the National Housing Federation-backed alliance of housing associations and councils working together to boost the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) in social housing. PfH and Building Better set up the framework following feedback from social housing organisations who said they wanted trusted local building firms to lead MMC projects and deliver traditional construction elements, where they were needed. The 22 building firms have been appointed across 37 different regions of England and Wales, ensuring that housing associations and local authorities can always work with contractors from their own communities. The £800m framework will run over four years and supports social housing providers to procure principal contractor services for a range of MMC projects, including low and medium rise housing, apartments and extra care homes. The traditional construction firms appointed are: AMMCASS Group, Bugler Developments, CG Fry & Son, Classic Builders, Elkins Construction, Ermine Construction Services, Feltham Construction, Hale Group, Hill Holdings, J. Harper & Sons (Leominster), Keon Homes, Langstone Construction, LIFE Build Solutions, MY Construction Group, Seddon Construction, SMD, Snowdon Homes, Wates Residential, Whitfield & Brown and Wiggett Construction. The MMC firms appointed are: Agile Property and Homes, and Enevate Homes. Tony Woods, Technical Manager – Construction & Sustainability for PfH said: “Over recent years we’ve seen MMC companies focusing more on manufacturing their systems rather than providing a turnkey service. It makes sense to bring in traditional builders with a strong reputation in a local area to manage these MMC projects and deliver any traditional build elements, too. We’ve also appointed two MMC firms that provide excellent turnkey services. All 22 firms are experienced lead contractors, and often have a relationship with social housing providers already. This framework provides councils and housing associations with a compliant route to procuring principal contractor services for MMC sites.” Jamie Watkins, Operations Manager at Elkins Construction, said: “We are delighted to be accepted onto this new framework, giving registered providers access to our services, where we can offer newbuild residential solutions using either traditional or Modern Methods of Construction. Over the last few years, we have seen increased requirements from our clients for net zero homes and this has meant the need to use more innovation in our construction practices. By using MMC or hybrid construction we can cut down time on site, reducing disruption to the communities we work in, improve quality through offsite manufacturing and reduce our carbon footprint, whilst providing our clients with highly energy efficient homes for their residents.” Antony Rees, Group Managing Director, J. Harper & Sons (Leominster) said: “Harpers are thrilled to have been appointed to the Procurement for Housing Framework. We are excited to deliver cost-effective, sustainable, and high-quality developments that meet the evolving needs of social housing organisations. With decades of industry experience, we have refined our expertise and look forward to continuing to deliver projects of the highest standard that meet the diverse needs of our communities.” Lewis Tolputt, Business Development Manager at Classic Builders, said: “Classic Builders is excited to be awarded a place on the new PfH framework. As a traditional contractor founded over 20 years ago, we are continually looking at ways we can innovate and offer our customers increased choice. The use of MMC products is just one of the ways we’re able to stay ahead of our competition. From delivering multi-award winning Passivhaus Plus schemes to pioneering zero carbon LETI compliant projects, by utilising MMC technology we’re able to build a better and more efficient tomorrow, today.” For further information about the Integrated Traditional Build & MMC framework, visit: https://procurementforhousing.co.uk/frameworksa-z/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
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
