Zoe Metcalfe of AtkinsRéalis examines the role of Design for Manufacture and Assembly in meeting some of the UK’s biggest infrastructure and housing goals, while increasing certainty, improving safety and speeding up projects
With the government’s own target of 1.5m new homes by 2029 under scrutiny by many in the construction sector, pressure is mounting to find solutions to the challenge that are not only scalable but also sustainable and economically viable.
While traditional construction methods have been the foundation for development programmes for decades, they are increasingly constrained by labour shortages, rising
costs and environmental concerns.
That is why we need to explore new approaches to meet these new challenges, and industrialised construction methods offer a more predictable, efficient, faster and
sustainable way to build with precision into the future.
This was the focus of a recent industry panel discussion on industrialised construction, with representatives from Laing O’Rourke, AtkinsRéalis, Arup and government bodies discussing how Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) could support the UK’s broader infrastructure and housing goals.
Understanding DfMA
DfMA involves manufacturing building components in a controlled offsite setting such as a factory and assembling them on-site. This process can reduce waste, improve safety and shorten construction timelines.
Paul McNerney of Laing O’Rourke described it as a “digitally led, manufacturing-based approach” that repositions construction as a high-tech industry.
One of the many key advantages of DfMA is its potential to deliver high precision projects more quickly and with greater consistency. For example, Everton Football Club’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium replaced traditional brickwork with pre-constructed high precision panels, which allowed for faster installation and a safer construction site, with fewer people on-site.
Similar methods have been applied to hospitals, schools and even nuclear power stations such as Hinkley Point C, where offsite constructed components have improved quality control and reduced on-site risks. These examples demonstrate that Modern Methods of Construction can offer greater certainty in delivery which is an increasingly important factor in public sector projects.
Quality and sustainability
Beyond speed, the use of industrialised manufacturing for domestic housing can contribute to better living conditions. Homes built using these methods often meet or exceed energy efficiency standards, which lowers utility bills and grid demands as well as providing improved comfort for residents.
These outcomes make sustainability more marketable and tangible for individuals and communities. This can be seen in the approach taken by EDAROTH, the social and affordable housing developer owned by global engineering services firm AtkinsRéalis.
Its net zero homes meet the highest industry standards, are future-ready and sustainable with energy usage reduced at the meter – and typically take 50% less time to complete than projects using traditional construction methods.
In healthcare and social housing, the benefits extend to long-term operational savings as buildings constructed using DfMA principles tend to be easier to maintain and more resilient, which can reduce facilities management costs over time and allow organisations to reinvest in services.
Addressing the skills gap
There are clear benefits for the construction industry more widely in terms of the skills shortage, with many roles being physically demanding and subject to seasonal and/or
regional fluctuations in demand.
Industrialised construction offers an alternative: stable, skilled roles in manufacturing and digital design that can satisfy the demands of different site locations from a centralised or regional manufacturing hub.
Paul McNerney noted that many apprenticeships in traditional construction are not completed due to the transient nature of the work. DfMA, by contrast, allows workers to remain in their communities and build long-term stable careers.
Supporting regional development
DfMA also aligns with regional development goals as metro mayors and combined authorities are increasingly responsible for infrastructure planning, there is an opportunity to coordinate investment in local manufacturing hubs and housing delivery.
For example, in Leeds, the Climate Innovation District is using Modern Methods of Construction to build homes on brownfield land. In Barking and Dagenham, public assets
are being leveraged to attract private investment and support regeneration.
These place-based strategies demonstrate how DfMA methods can be integrated into broader economic and social development plans.
Remaining challenges
Despite its potential, DfMA is not without challenges and misconceptions about cost, quality and design flexibility persist. Some investors and insurers remain cautious, and procurement processes often favour conventional approaches. Yet solutions such as EDAROTH develop assets that are built sustainably for the long term, a key characteristic for patient capital investment.
However, there are signs of progress with government programmes such as the New Hospital Programme beginning to mandate industrialised design. Digital tools like Building Information Modelling and digital twins are helping to improve planning and reduce risk.
Planetary considerations embedded into the mindset of our multidisciplinary teams also enable us to engineer in line with our purpose: engineering a better future for our planet
and its people. Industrialised construction enables us to strive for net zero, to be resource efficient and look to nature in applying biophilic principles.
Next steps for industrial construction
It’s clear that the evidence supporting DfMA is growing, and the next step is to encourage wider adoption through policy and practice.
To support the growth of industrialised construction public projects should follow the Construction Playbook, which encourages collaboration, standardisation and Modern
Methods of Construction.
We also need to focus on education and training where schools, colleges and employers should integrate DfMA into curricula and career pathways.
But crucially, procurement processes need to evolve to best support today’s business challenges. Evaluation frameworks should consider whole-life value in the wider context, including energy efficiency, maintenance, environmental impact, whole life carbon assessments and social impact.
A balanced path forward
Industrialised construction and MMC more broadly should not be seen as the complete solution that will deliver 1.5m homes in the next four years – no “solution” ever is in the
real world. But it does offer a viable alternative for many types of projects, particularly where speed, sustainability and cost certainty are priorities.
As the UK seeks to meet its housing targets and transition to a low-carbon economy, DfMA provides a practical tool that can complement existing approaches.
The challenge now is to accelerate the integration of DfMA effectively into our design, planning, procurement, and education systems, ensuring that it delivers value not just in theory but in practice.
The post Building smarter: Making the case for industrialised construction in the UK appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
