Can off-site manufacture improve productivity in construction?

24 April 2018

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee holds the first evidence session on its inquiry into Off-site manufacture for construction, and hears from house builders and engineering experts.

Purpose of session

The Committee considers the potential benefits of off-site manufacture and the implications of its use for architects, design engineers, contractors and the supply chain. The session also explores the opportunities off-site manufacture offers for building high quality, affordable housing.

Witnesses

Tuesday 24 April in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster

At 3.20pm

Professor Jeremy Watson CBE, Vice-Dean of Engineering Sciences and Professor of Engineering Systems, University College London
Phil Wilbraham, Expansion Programme Director, Heathrow Airport
Professor Jennifer Whyte, Director of the Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation, Imperial College London

At 4.20pm

Rosie Toogood, CEO, Legal and General Modular Homes
Jamie Ratcliff, Assistant Director (Housing), Greater London Authority
Tim Carey, National Product Director, Willmott Dixon

Possible questions

Questions likely to be covered in the sessions include:

What are the opportunities offered by offsite manufacture for construction? What are the likely drawbacks?
How can the planning system be used to encourage the use of off-site manufacture for construction for housing?
What re-skilling of the construction workforce is required to facilitate a change to more off-site manufacture for construction?
What should the construction sector deal include?

Further information

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