Nick Fulford’s Post

Great little feature here on MMC in the Australian Broker. There is lots of terminology kicked about in this space and they all have a different meaning— MMC, industrialised building, prefabrication, offsite manufacturing, modular construction, DfM, DfMA, alternative construction techniques, smart building etc etc Let's consider Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) as an overarching category. By doing so, the focus shifts to identifying the specific aspects of MMC that we are investigating, funding, and investing in, understanding their current stage of development, and assessing their potential impact on housing supply in both the short and long term. Naturally, it's easy to focus on whether to view some of this as a cost or an investment. Of course, low-scale production of modular homes will be expensive right now if the market (orders are low). Similarly, investing in the development of an entirely new industry is expensive when there is so much need now. However, I'm sure we considered that when we invested in the light bulb, motor vehicle, computers, and mobile phones. It seems to me that government and industry both have a role to play in delivering right now and developing for the future. We should also acknowledge that many of these techniques have been embedded into private sector development for many, many years. I am largely referring to the role govt and industry should play together here 🤝 I like the direction of the national advanced manufacturing agenda, and that is the sort of visionary thinking this second part of the MMC equation requires in my opinion. Our state govt was one of the first out the gates with a modular program, but let’s lead hard on this whole agenda before someone else swoops in and beats us to the prize. Q Shelter Master Builders Queensland Building 4.0 CRC Property Council of Australia #MMC #ModernMethods #FutureTech #InvestNow #AdvancedManufacturing

Lucas Ross have been jointly appointed as Administrators with FRP over North East based construction giant and shortlisted property awards candidate, Surgo Construction Limited. Surgo was a company with a rich history spanning over a century and was renowned for its reliability and expertise in delivering diverse construction projects across various sectors.  It delivered notable projects including Bede 6th Form College, Dame Allan’s School and South Tyneside Council’s South Shields Crematorium refurbishment. The latter of these projects saw it shortlisted for the Contractor of the Year and Retrofit and Refurbishment awards at the highly competitive 2023 Insider NE property awards. Despite these accolades, Surgo lost an adjudication with a supplier, Roundel Manufacturing Limited, in relation to the supply and installation of kitchens for a development for Bellway Homes. Surgo was ordered to pay over £180,000 to Roundtel, which it assessed on a ‘true value’ valuation. Roundtel assigned their rights to the ultimate customer, Bellway Homes, who then took Surgo to court seeking a summary judgement. Surgo lost and the court awarded summary judgement leading to Bellway seeking to petition for the winding up of the company. Sadly, this led to Surgo's financial woes culminating in its administration, signalling a dramatic turn of events for the company and its employees. The announcement has left many shocked and saddened, with employees now facing an uncertain future following their redundancy days before it fell into administration. The Administrators will now take charge of Surgo’s affairs as its stakeholders begin to grapple with the implications of its collapse. As the administration process unfolds, stakeholders will be closely monitoring developments, hoping for a resolution that minimises the impact on local suppliers, its lenders and HM Revenue & Customs while offering insights into the circumstances surrounding Surgo's downfall. Stephen Lancaster commented that “Surgo's administration serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of success in today's economic climate, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the construction industry and the challenges faced by businesses within it”. #insolvency #lending #construction

Is #modularconstruction still viable? Despite setbacks like major #MMC manufacturers folding, experts remain optimistic about its potential to deliver better quality, sustainable homes. Key barriers include planning delays, investor caution, and skills shortages. Sponsored by H+H UK Limited, this discussion explores how bold government action and clear metrics could drive progress. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eA5svpCF #UKhousing #sponsored #housinginnovation

As London Build approaches an end, we’re thrilled with the positive response to our land-finding service and its potential to unlock opportunities for land development, vital to the UK. Yesterday’s panel, Delivering the UK’s Housing Targets: Effective Collaboration Between Government and Housebuilders, brought together industry leaders to discuss the challenges in achieving housing goals. 📰Key takeaways included a call for the industry to embrace more Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), sustainable retrofitting, and private sector backing for local authorities to address delays and skill gaps. SME developers face unique hurdles, but collaboration, innovation, and investment were highlighted as critical solutions. While the panel concluded there is no “silver bullet” for the complex challenges our sector faces, collaboration, innovation, and investment are key to unlocking the solutions we need—and they are within reach. We’re pleased that our Planning Engagement Programme is already helping bridge these gaps and support local authorities in delivering better outcomes. 👉To learn more about this multi-faceted programme of local authority planning support, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gwBjstNb London Build was a hub of discussion, on the most pivotal, cutting-edge issues facing our industries and the innovative solutions driving progress. We’re proud to play a key role in this conversation and look forward to sharing more insights in the days and weeks ahead.

Reflecting on Beattie Passive's Administration Notice Today, the news of Beattie Passive filing for administration serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges facing the UK construction industry. As pioneers of passive house technology since 2009, their journey has been one of innovation and commitment to sustainable building practices. In an era where the urgent drive for net-zero and low-carbon construction has never been clearer, the setback faced by Beattie Passive underscores a critical need for reflection and action. The construction sector stands at a crossroads, with the demand for transformative solutions clashing against the stagnation within the industry. The establishment of a framework agreement by LHC in June 2023 offered a glimmer of hope, recognising the potential of modular and offsite construction to revolutionise the way we build. It has become evident that mere frameworks are not enough. We stand on the precipice of change, with the housing crisis looming large and the need for innovative solutions more pressing than ever. It's time for a fast awakening—a rallying call for regulatory reforms that prioritise modular and offsite construction, unleashing the full potential of these technologies to address our housing challenges head-on. If Norway and France can deliver regulatory reform in adopting MMC, Offsite and Modular: what is holding the UK government back? This news ought to serve as a catalyst for introspection and action. Together, let's forge a future where sustainability, innovation, and progress define the landscape of UK construction. The time for change is now. #BuildingTheFuture #SustainableConstruction #CollaboratingForImpact https://lnkd.in/e2WiAsw6

Following Labour’s victory at the General Election, there are new policies and targets proposed for the country. One of the key ones being to ‘Get Britain Building Again’. Over the course of the next 5 years, the Labour Government have set the UK house building industry a target to deliver 1.5 million new homes. As part of the effort to achieve this, timber frame construction is going to be a crucial, sustainable tool to help drive towards this target. At Pinewood Structures, we have over 40 years of success, so we know that speed can be key in housing projects. We use MMC, so we can push build programme processes faster than traditional alternatives. Read more about the UK’s house building targets and find out how timber frame fits into this in our latest blog: https://bit.ly/4gPEutp #MMC #OffsiteConstruction #TimberFrameManufacturers

🏚 Plummeting numbers of new home construction, administrations, high borrowing costs and building expenses, the UK housebuilding sector urgently needs revitalisation and a new government could be the solution.🏚 In an exclusive piece for PBC Today & BIM Today, Rachel Hughes, marketing director at Wienerberger UK and Ireland, discusses what the General Election could mean for UK housebuilding, and how the next government can pave the way for success. Read here: https://bit.ly/3RLeXXr #UkHousebuilding #Construction #UKConstruction

Mansell Building Solutions hosted this round table with great representatives from different strands in the property and construction sector that highlight the need and opportunity for MMC in our building programmes, esepcially around housing. Focusing on housing as an infrastructure requirement was one of the interesting take aways for me. Have a watch and let us know what you think. How is MMC the key? How can the industrialization of construction be fast tracked and embraced within the industry?

Has modular housebuilding failed? In the UK, questions are being asked - despite millions of pounds of government investment, the modular housing industry has seen a series of failures over the past 12 months. So, with that mentioned, will modular housing solve or hinder the housing crisis here in Australia? #MMC #Modernmethodsofconstruction #realestate

Housing Executive Magazine has featured a comment piece from our Director Nick Towe which focuses on how modern methods of construction (MMC) can help build the homes Britain needs.   In the piece Nick explains how we are going to need to look at innovative ways to build new homes if we want to scale up construction and meet the ambitious target of delivering 1.5 million homes over the next three years set by the Labour Government.   Read the article here: https://bit.ly/4fRMF74