It is no secret that
the UK faces a severe shortage of homes, particularly in the social housing
sector.
The pressure on the
housing supply comes at a time when the average age of the construction
workforce is increasing, creating a potential time bomb that will play out over
the next 10 years as the workforce shrinks by an estimated 25%.
There is a smart
solution - the industry needs to embrace offsite forms of construction to
increase the attractiveness of the industry to new entrants and to improve
productivity to increase output with less labour. Offsite manufacture in a
factory environment is by no means a new concept and the benefits are clear.
Major manufacturers
working in the offsite sector say that they can deliver the capacity required,
however to do this, they need committed volumes to generate a climate of
confidence for investment.
Chair of the Explore
Offsite Housing Event, Darren Richards, Managing Director of offsite experts,
Cogent Construction, supported this view saying: "By far the largest house
building programme that is going to be delivered is by the government. For the
industry to have the confidence to invest, a committed government housing
pipeline is required, but I think this should be taken a step further to offer
greater economies of scale and instead of buying as a single programme -
the government should aggregate demand across residential sectors and
regions."
The official figures
released at the end of 2017 show that the number of new homes in England
increased by more than 217,000 in 2016. This signifies the highest level of net
additions since the recession and it is the first time in almost a decade that
the 200,000 milestone has been reached.
Without doubt, some
progress is being made - experts have hailed offsite construction as the only
way to respond to the huge demand for new housing. This represents a major
opportunity for construction professionals operating in or entering the offsite
arena. Crucial to success, is understanding the construction dynamic and
keeping abreast of constant innovations within the sector.
Explore Offsite
Housing does not claim to have all the answers but can offer in-depth insight
from those who are shaping the future of the social housing and private
residential sectors - as well as learnings from a host of innovators and
thought leaders in the offsite sector. The conference and exhibition will offer
the opportunity to learn direct from a high-profile speaker line-up featuring
Sir Edward Lister, Chair - Homes England; Aiden Wilkie, Deputy Director for
Housing Diversification - The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local
Government and Jenny Coombs, Project Director - Local Partnerships.
Explore Offsite Housing brings together industry
leaders and pioneers to discuss the latest innovations in offsite technologies
and the growing opportunities that the housing shortage presents.
Taking place at the
NEC, Birmingham today and tomorrow (April 10 and 11) the conference and
exhibition will provide a fantastic opportunity for members of the construction
industry, who want to tap into the huge opportunities on offer across the
offsite construction sector. The event format provides a dynamic and
interactive learning experience for all visitors through presentations and a
wide array of exhibitors.
Explore Offsite is a
series of conferences and exhibitions creating a platform for construction
clients and their professional advisers to explore the latest offsite
construction solutions.
