Committees

Modern Methods of Construction inquiry

Inquiry

Government Response

Modern Methods of Construction utilises a range of approaches, such as off-site manufacturing and improvements to the supply-chain, and is intended to produce more, better quality homes in less time. Compared to more traditional forms of house building, MMC can improve predictability of work and costs, mitigate material shortages and the impact of developments on the local area. According to the Government’s Industrial Strategy, MMC has the potential to reform the residential construction sector so as to meet its target of 300,000 new homes each year, and 1 million between 2017 and 2020.

There have been challenges to implementing the strategy more widely. The Government has identified inconsistent demand in the housing sector and lack of collaborative construction supply chains in expanding MMC practices. The HCLG Committee found in a previous inquiry, Capacity in the Housebuilding Industry, that increased use of MMC would require greater Government support to give “lenders, consumers and builders the confidence to use new methods”.

This new inquiry will look at the benefits achieved by housebuilders who have used MMC techniques and some of the drawbacks that have been experienced. It will examine how national and local government can support the use of MMC by and encourage innovation in the sector.

Terms of reference:

The Committee is inviting submissions on:

  • What are the benefits of MMC, and how can they sustainably boost the housing supply?
  • What are the primary risks to increasing the use of MMC?
  • How could the Government, Homes England and local authorities (a) increase demand for MMC to meet its homebuilding targets and (b) support the construction industry in increasing the use of MMC?
  • How can small and medium sized housebuilders better utilise MMC, including to support innovation and competition in the construction industry?
  • How can challenges related to access to finance (for both homebuyers and developers) be overcome.

Reports, special reports and government responses

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15th Report - Modern methods of construction
Inquiry Modern Methods of Construction inquiry
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HC 1831
Report

Correspondence

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Letter from Lord Agnew to the Chair on Modern Methods of Construction, dated 2 September 2019
Inquiry Modern Methods of Construction inquiry
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Letter from the Chair replying to Lord Agnew regarding Modern Methods of Construction, dated 16 September 2019
Inquiry Modern Methods of Construction inquiry
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Correspondence
Letter to Chair from Homes England regarding the Accelerated Construction Programme, dated 12 April 2019
Inquiry Modern Methods of Construction inquiry
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Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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7 May 2019
Inquiry Modern Methods of Construction inquiry
Witnesses Kit Malthouse MP, Minister of State for Housing, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Andrew Stephenson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Business and Industry, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director, Construction, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy , and Isobel Stephen, Director, Housing Supply, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
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Oral Evidence
1 April 2019
Inquiry Modern Methods of Construction inquiry
Witnesses James Dalton, Director, General Insurance Policy, Association of British Insurers, Charlie Blagbrough, Policy Manager, Housing and Mortgages, Building Societies Association, Neil Smith, Head of Standards, Innovation and Research, National House Building Council, and Mike Basquill, Associate Director, UK Residential, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; Louise McGough, Senior Policy Officer, Housing and Land, Greater London Authority, and Stephen Kinsella, Executive Director, Land, Homes England (at 4.45pm).
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Oral Evidence
18 March 2019
Inquiry Modern Methods of Construction inquiry
Witnesses Steven Boyes, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, Barratt Developments, James Thomson, Non-Executive Director and former Chief Executive, Keepmoat Homes, Alun Macey, Head of Construction, Pocket Living , and Jennie Daly, Director, Group Operations, Taylor Wimpey; Lord Porter of Spalding CBE, Chairman, Local Government Association, Wayne Hill, Director, Construction Services, L&Q Group, and Trina Chakravarti, Project Director, Building Better, National Housing Federation (at 4.45pm).
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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National Federation of Builders (MMC0051)
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CITB (MMC0052)
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Keepmoat Homes (MMC0048)
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Other publications

No other publications published.

Contact us

  • Email: hclgcom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 6232 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 7556 (media inquiries)
  • Address: Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA