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Why Low-Carbon Precast Concrete Is No Longer a Compromise

Building Products Index Ltd Concrete, Precast Leave a Comment

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As the construction industry accelerates toward net-zero targets, the demand for sustainable materials has never been higher. While low-carbon concrete has been widely adopted for in-situ applications, precast concrete has traditionally lagged behind—mainly due to concerns around strength, durability, and consistency.

But that’s changing.

Thanks to innovations like ECO 1® from JKH, it’s now possible to achieve CEM I-equivalent performance in precast applications while significantly reducing carbon emissions. This marks a pivotal moment for the industry: low-carbon no longer means low-performance.

In this review, we’ll explore how low-carbon precast concrete has evolved and why it’s now a viable—and often preferable—alternative to traditional mixes.

What Is Low-Carbon Precast Concrete?

Traditional precast concrete is manufactured off-site using a high-cement mix, offering excellent strength, consistency, and durability. However, cement production is a major contributor to global CO₂ emissions.

Low-carbon precast concrete replaces a significant portion of cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like GGBS or fly ash. These mixes have historically been seen as less suitable for precast due to slower curing times or reduced early strength. But with proprietary blends like ECO 1, that’s no longer the case.

Key Differences—and Why They Matter Now

  1. Performance Without Compromise
  • Traditional Precast: Known for high strength and durability, especially in demanding environments.
  • ECO 1 Low-Carbon Precast ECO 1: Matches or exceeds traditional performance. ECO 1 retains CEM I standards while reducing cement content by 46%, achieving over 75 N/mm² at 28 days. It’s fully compliant with BS 8500-2:2023, including Design Chemical Class 4 and Design Sulphate Class 4—making it suitable for even the most aggressive environments.
  1. Environmental Impact
  • Traditional Precast: High embodied carbon due to cement content.
  • ECO1 Low-Carbon Precast: ECO 1 reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 49% with its ECO 1 ULTRA® variant, offering a genuine path to sustainable construction without sacrificing quality.
  1. Consistency and Quality
  • Traditional Precast: Offers factory-controlled consistency.
  • Low-Carbon Precast: Now delivers the same consistency and reliability, thanks to advanced mix design and rigorous testing. ECO 1 is used as standard across all JKH products, proving its reliability at scale
  1. Cost and Availability
  • Traditional Precast: Well-established and widely available.
  • Low-Carbon Precast: Once considered niche, it’s now mainstream. At JKH, ECO 1 is the default mix—offered at no extra cost—making sustainable choices more accessible than ever
  1. Project Suitability
  • Traditional Precast: Ideal for high-load, high-durability applications.
  • Low-Carbon Precast: Now equally suited for these applications, while also helping meet sustainability targets, LEED certification, and government carbon mandates.

Conclusion: A New Era for Precast Concrete

The assumption that low-carbon concrete can’t meet the demands of precast applications is now outdated. With solutions like ECO 1, the industry can move forward confidently—combining sustainability with strength, and innovation with reliability.

At JKH Ltd, we’re proud to lead this transformation. Whether you’re building infrastructure, commercial developments, or sustainable housing, our ECO 1 range ensures you no longer have to choose between performance and planet.

Let’s build better—together.

For more details on the ECO1 range, visit: https://www.jkhltd.co.uk/eco-1-range/ or contact us at sales@jkhltd.co.uk to discuss your needs.

*ECO 1 and ECO1 ULTRA are registered trade marks of JKH Drainage Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Providing the proof – the role of the manufacturer

Building Products Index Ltd Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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In an era where the accuracy of product descriptions is right in the spotlight, it’s worth considering what you can expect from a supportive manufacturer.

Responsible manufacturers have recognised for years that it is not enough simply to describe the technical performance of a product. Specifiers can now expect to see detailed information on the context in which the product is used, from health and safety advice to embodied carbon. H+H is one manufacturer that has embraced the demand for comprehensive information.

Energy performance: The Future Homes Standard (FHS)

After years of consultation and gradual movement, FHS is set to come into force this year, paving the way for new homes to be zero carbon.

During the decades that the energy efficiency of new homes has been under scrutiny, the elements that need consideration have evolved. For example, in 2007, the objective was to build homes that were zero carbon in use.

This is still the primary objective of the Future Homes Standard – hence the focus on new technology to eliminate the use of fossil fuel for heating. However, many housebuilders are now also considering the carbon emissions associated with the manufacture of building materials, in order to reduce the whole life carbon emissions of new buildings.

It’s a new way of thinking for the entire supply chain and product manufacturers need to be transparent and proactive in producing the information required to help builders meet their objectives.

Fabric Energy Efficiency

It makes sense to build homes that are intrinsically as energy efficient as possible, although FHS does also recognise that there are limits to what can be achieved. For walls, the U-value requirement is 0.18W/m2K. At this extreme level of insulation every detail counts – and it is generally detailing that will make the difference, particularly the issue of thermal bridges.

Such bridges typically occur at junctions and can account for as much as 30% of fabric heat loss. The impact of thermal bridges is described as a Psi value and this needs to be included as part of the calculation process to demonstrate compliance with building regulations.

Calculating the potential impact of thermal bridges and working out the design details required to reduce it, can be complex and time-consuming. H+H produced a solution to this issue by simply providing Psi value calculations for over 3,000 potential junction details using its Solar, Standard, High Strength and Super Strength Grade aircrete blocks. The calculations cover all uses of aircrete in cavity, walls, beam and block floors, separating walls or foundations below DPC.  All are freely available for housebuilders.

Whole Life Carbon

Eliminating carbon emissions from the built environment requires buildings to produce no carbon emissions throughout their life cycle. We know how to eliminate carbon emissions from a building in use, but calculating the impact of the construction process is a relatively new field.

Manufacturers are right in at the start, describing their contribution to CO2 emissions in terms of embodied carbon. This should include the carbon emissions associated with manufacture, lifetime operation and end of life disposal.

As with any new endeavour, it is taking time for embodied carbon calculation methods to be scrutinised and accepted. There remain variations in the ways embodied carbon numbers are calculated and described.

For H+H the process is relatively straightforward. Aircrete blocks are produced in the UK, using minimal raw materials. The performance of the product in use is well understood and its end-of-life disposal is benign in terms of carbon emissions. H+H is therefore comfortable with producing detailed lifecycle assessments which include every stage of the product’s life cycle, and the company is actively promoting the Environmental Product Declarations which discuss the calculation method as well as providing an embodied carbon figure.

Right now, it can be difficult to make sense of embodied carbon figures for different building materials, as the calculation methods may not be directly comparable (some EPDs do not include end-of-life emissions, for example). Specifiers need to be up to speed to make sense of the numbers available.

Responsible product information

Providing this breadth and depth of information requires investment from manufacturers in both technical expertise and the communication support to share information accessibly with the wider construction industry. It’s a recognition of the interdependence of the supply chain and the co-operation required to reach common objectives of safety and sustainability.

Saving time and reducing waste on site with precast bespoke cover slabs

Building Products Index Ltd Concrete, Precast Leave a Comment

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Precast special access cover slabs, manufactured offsite, within quality controlled environments, reduces the stress on resources at building and construction sites, according to Paul Cartwright, Business Development Director at Elite Precast Concrete, here’s how:

Precision Manufacturing

  • Exact Fit: Precast cover slabs are tailored to previse project specifications, minimising the need for adjustments, specialised materials and skilled labour on site.
  • Controlled Environment: Manufacturing in a factory setting ensures accurate material calculations, reducing excess and defects.
  • Quality Assurance: Rigorous quality control reduces errors compared to on-site casting, leading to less material waste.

Elimination of on-site modifications

  • By designing cover slabs to exact dimensions, the need for cutting or trimming on-site is eliminated, reducing waste materials.
  • Minimises the risk of ordering surplus materials as a contingency.

Optimised Design

  • Efficient use of materials: customer designs allow for optimised slab thickness and reinforcement placement, avoiding unnecessary use of concrete and steel.

Reduced Formwork Waste

  • Precast cover slabs eliminate the need for temporary formwork, which is often discarded after use, thereby reducing construction waste and vehicle movements.

Material Recovery

  • Any waste, generated during manufacturing can be recycled or reused within the factory, unlike on-site waste that is harder to manage

Extended Lifespan

  • Designed for durability, these bespoke slabs can last over 100 years, under normal conditions. This longevity reduces the need for replacements, further minimising long-term material waste.

By integrating precision engineering, optimised design, and offsite manufacturing with modern methods of construction, special access cover slabs offer a sustainable solution to reduce material waste in construction projects, increase the health and safety on site and make the lives of designers, specifiers, buyers and installers easier.

Call 01952 588885 to find out more or visit www.eliteprecast.co.uk/drainage-products/large-diameter-cover-slabs/

Future Proofing: Energy Efficiency with H+H Aircrete

Building Products Index Ltd Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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To meet the demands and regulations of an environmentally sustainable future, take a ‘fabric first’ approach.

Sustainable standards are more important than ever. The growing consciousness concerning the environment is reflected in modern building regulations, such as the Future Homes Standard, expected to come into effect this year.

As we know, not all materials are created equal in terms of conserving energy and regulating temperatures in a building. At H+H, we support a “fabric first” philosophy. This means that we believe thermal efficiency should be built into the fabric of a house, so it remains effective for the lifetime of the building. Choosing aircrete ensures the building will benefit from high energy efficiency for years to come.

Thermal efficiency and U-values

Aircrete has a low rate of heat transfer through a structure (U-value) and is highly thermally efficient. The temperature in buildings constructed with aircrete is well regulated, keeping the heat in during cold winter months and the heat out on hot summer days. This reduces the energy used to control the temperature with systems such as central heating, resulting in a lower carbon footprint for the building.

One standard being encouraged in the move towards an energy efficient future is Passivhaus. Passivhaus is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency, which reduces the building’s ecological footprint. To achieve Passivhaus certification, a build must be airtight, and have an extremely low U-value.

H+H aircrete can be used for airtight construction, and its high thermal performance helps to meet stringent Passivhaus requirements, making it an ideal choice for energy-efficient building projects seeking the Passivhaus stamp of approval.

New standards of energy efficiency regulations are expected this year in the Future Homes Standard (FHS), which based on the current information available, we anticipate H+H aircrete will surpass.

Compatibility with heat pumps

Another key expectation set out in the Future Homes Standard is the requirement for new homes to be ‘zero-carbon ready’, meaning no work will be necessary to allow them to achieve zero carbon emissions when the electricity grid is fully decarbonised.

To achieve this objective the government encourages the use of heat pumps as the primary source of heating for houses as they are efficient and low carbon, and are less expensive to run than alternative electric heating systems.

Heat pumps work most efficiently if the home is well insulated. Constructing a building’s fabric with products that have a high U-value, indicating they are not very thermally efficient, can hinder the effectiveness of a heat pump. This is far from ideal, particularly given the significant initial investment required to install a heat pump. Aircrete’s high thermal efficiency makes it an ideal material for constructing homes that incorporate heat pumps, allowing them to perform to their full potential.

Long term thermal efficiency

While houses built today must have a minimum life expectancy of just 60 years, H+H aircrete has a lifespan of over 100 years.

This longevity means the benefits of aircrete, specifically its thermal efficiency, will last long into the future, continuing to require reduced heating and cooling demands for decades, making it a sustainable choice for future-proof construction.

Choosing aircrete for construction projects contributes to energy savings, supporting long-term sustainability goals. As we move towards a future where energy efficiency is paramount, materials like aircrete will play a crucial role in shaping buildings that are not only comfortable and cost-effective to maintain but also kind to the environment.

To find out more visit www.hhcelcon.co.uk or contact us on 01732 886444 or email info.uk@hplush.com

Factory fitting accessories to our precast concrete headwalls

Building Products Index Ltd Concrete, Precast Leave a Comment

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Althon are able to pre-fit a wide range to accessories to our precast concrete headwalls, this means the concrete does not have to be drilled on site. Saving time on the installation and has great health and safety benefits.

Wherever possible we will deliver our headwalls with all factory fitted accessories still attached for faster offload and installation.

☑️ Flap Valves
☑️ Penstocks
☑️ Gratings, Outfall Grilles and Trash Screens
☑️ Kee Klamp, Gates, Ladders and Catwalks
☑️ Dissipation Blocks
☑️ Stepped Baffle Blocks
☑️ Cascade Panels
☑️ Tideflex Duckbill Valves
☑️ Orifice Plates
☑️ Stop Logs
☑️ V Notch Weir
☑️ Pond Liner Brackets
☑️ Dovetails Slots for Cladding

 

or more information on the headwalls we offer please visit our website, email sales@althon.co.uk or call us on 01603 488700 and we will be happy to help.

A level playing field for embodied carbon calculations

Building Products Index Ltd Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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The first step to being able to accurately compare the embodied carbon of different building products is to have a level playing field for carbon reporting.

Calculating carbon is complicated. Working out the embodied carbon of a building product is more complex than simply taking one figure from a report. However, the first step to accurately comparing the embodied carbon of different building products is to have a level playing field for carbon reporting.

Embodied carbon guidelines

To determine the carbon embodied in a particular product, the construction industry relies on established guidelines and technical guidance in the form of product category rules (PCRs), and environmental product declarations (EPDs).

PCRs provide the category-specific guidance for estimating and reporting product lifecycle environmental impacts. EPDs disclose the life cycle environmental performance of products using pre-determined parameters.

The quality of the information in the EPD must be verified by a third party before it can be registered and published.

A major challenge for specifiers is that the data found in EPDs can vary significantly.

Inconsistencies in calculation

Comparing EPDs for different products can be complicated as there are elements that may not be consistent from one EPD to another. For example, different methodological approaches may be taken; generic rather than product-specific data may be used, and non-required fields – such as A4 Transport – may be included in some EPDs and not others.

Inconsistencies in information contained in an EPD can have a major impact in terms of product specification. This is particularly true when comparing biogenic products such as timber with products manufactured using other materials, and critically, it will impact the figure for carbon embodied in a building.

This is highlighted in a report published by engineering consultancy LBP SIGHT, which analysed 48 EPDs for wood products[i]. The report Carbon Accounting for Building Materials – An assessment of the Global Warming Potential of biobased construction products, states: “The assessment of PCR and EPDs of wood-based products shows that inconsistencies both at the system level of PCR and the implementation in EPDs exist. Ultimately, this results in skewed declared values for CO2e emissions at the product level, and therefore in comparison with alternative products”.

RICS standardisation of LCAs

The RICS Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment, section 4.7, explains the types of carbon data that should be used in a WLCA[ii]. It recommends the Built Environment Carbon Database as the first point of reference to identify carbon data for construction materials and products. According to RICS, EPDs using EN 15804 and ISO 21930:2017 are preferred.

EN 15804 requires all product EPDs that contain biogenic carbon to be modelled on their full life cycle. The RICS WLCA does allow for Cradle-to-Gate EPDs, but only if biogenic carbon is totally excluded.

It is worth noting that the older version of EN 15804, which dates to 2013, used to allow Cradle-to-Gate for biomass materials. This has allowed some timber products to report carbon credits instead of impacts, which can be misleading where legacy EPDs are referenced.

An EPD produced in accordance with EN 15804 must also comply with the requirements of ISO 14044, the International Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standard, and ISO 14025, the international standard covering EPDs for construction products.

The standard EN 15804 defines a series of modules covering carbon emissions over a product’s various lifecycle stages:

  • A1-A3 production stage
  • A4-A5 construction stage
  • B1-B5 use stage
  • B6-B7 operational carbon stage
  • C1-C4 end-of-life stage.

At H+H, we have ensured that our product EPDs cover each of these sections to transparently report the full lifecycle, Cradle-to-Grave, of our products. We believe that product manufacturers have a responsibility to report as accurately as possible the environmental impact of their products across their full lifecycle. However, there is still work to be done by regulatory authorities to ensure a level playing field for all embodied carbon reporting in the construction sector.

The continued variation between EPDs only emphasises the importance of standardised methodologies and high-quality data in EPDs to ensure meaningful and accurate comparisons.

[i] LBP Sight. Carbon Accounting for Building Materials: An assessment of Global Warming Potential of biobased construction products. 2022. https://www.ca4bm.eu/CA4BM_Final_Report.pdf

[ii] RICS. Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment. https://www.rics.org/profession-standards/rics-standards-and-guidance/sector-standards/construction-standards/whole-life-carbon-assessment.html)

Dry Build Solutions for Vertical Landscaping

Building Products Index Ltd Concrete, Walling Leave a Comment

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Wakefield based Grass Concrete Ltd, are best known for 50 years of Grasscrete, the permeable grass-paving system, but it’s not only at ground level where they have made an impression. They have a successful line up of Green Living Walls – landscape building blocks used for a variety of retaining walls.

Grass Concrete’s Betoconcept brand is a patented walling range of dry-build retaining walls that combines reduced noise levels with attractive vertical landscapes, offering a real variety of planting options.

Betoconcept incorporates; Betoatlas, Betoflor, Betotitan, Leromur, Betojar and Betonap products. offer vertical landscaping with different shapes and styles and can bring attractive planting with colour, shape or textured finish. The Betoconcept Living Walls are unique sustainable building blocks that provide adequate soil pockets for all types of plants, shrubs and climbers. Good drainage and water capture help keep landscape maintenance to a minimum.

Grass Concrete offer retaining walls for road highways or the simplest garden or boundary walls. The Betoconcept range brings different shapes and styles to accommodate planting on high or low walls.

With individual interlocking blocks and dry-build interconnectivity the range offers the ability to free-form wall layouts in single or terraced wall format. These interlocking units enable a quick and easy construction process even with complex curves, ground embankments and weight surcharges with various wall heights.

Dry built blocks interlock to form the required face angle and provide adequate soil pockets for all types of plants, shrubs and climbers. Good drainage and water capture with the stepped bank helps keep landscape maintenance to a minimum.

For the architect and landscaper Betoatlas retaining walls can be transformed into planting opportunities offering alternatives for the garden design.

To see more alternatives for Betoconcept landscape walls visit the website www.grasscrete.com

Many of today’s garden and boundary walls now feature planting, colour, shape and textured finish and Grass Concrete are pleased to be part of this progress.

Talk to the experts to find out more

Tel 01924 379 443

www.grasscrete.com

info@grasscrete.com

EPDs: What you need to know

Building Products Index Ltd Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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H+H explores how to compare the embodied carbon of different construction products.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are crucial for those who want to make informed decisions about building materials, with a focus on embodied carbon.

Many contractor firms and housebuilders have already published their own ‘zero carbon’ targets, prompting manufacturers to calculate the embodied carbon of their products. The expansion of building regulations to include requirements for embodied carbon is also under consideration. A proposed amendment, known as ‘Part Z’, would introduce mandatory assessments of whole life carbon emissions for construction projects if enacted.

EPDs are third party verified documents produced by manufacturers to detail the environmental impact of individual products.

H+H offers EPDs for our Standard Grade Celcon Blocks and our Vertical Wall Panels. We are also in the process of developing EPDs for our specialist grade Celcon Blocks.

Whole life or up front carbon emissions?

EPDs are valuable but only if the reader understands what the information is telling them and considers the context in which the product will be used. Comparing figures from different EPDs is not straightforward and it pays to look closely at the numbers rather than any commentary.

The focus should be on ‘whole life’ carbon emissions. This figure, also known as ‘cradle to grave’, includes: the raw materials and manufacture of a product; transport and construction; the building in use, and disposal of the material at the end of the building’s life. In an EPD these are categorised under sections:

  • A1-A3 – Product
  • A4-A5 – Construction
  • B1-B7 – Use
  • C1-C4 – End of life

Any embodied carbon figure quoting only the ‘up front’ manufacture (A1-A3) is not a true reflection of the environmental impact of a product.

For most people the most relevant figure in an EPD is the Total Global Warming Potential (GWP), measured in kgCO2e. This information is often given in a useful ‘Environmental Data Summary’ within the document, however extreme care must be taken to check what information the manufacturer has chosen to include here.

A manufacturer interested in full transparency should report the whole life carbon emissions figure: ‘GWP-total, A1-C4 (KgCo2e)’. The H+H EPD certainly includes this measurement in the data summary. However, manufacturers can decide what information they declare in the summary, so some will choose to publish ‘GWP-total, A1-A3’ here (the ‘up front’ figure), particularly if it shows a lower value than the whole life number.

The ‘Declared unit’ should also be reviewed as not all manufacturers report figures based on the same unit of measurement. For example, the figures for aircrete blocks are based on one metre cubed whereas some other products are measured by a square or linear metre. To compare like with like some additional calculation may be required.

Just as important is to take into consideration how the product will be used in the construction project. For example, the choice of material used for the structural walls will dictate what other materials are needed to complete the wall structure.

For aircrete internal walls the calculation is relatively simple since the wall is built entirely of aircrete. For composite panels the picture is more complicated as the embodied carbon of each individual product: timber, board, waterproof membrane, insulation, for example, will need to be considered.  And again, the figure used should be the whole life embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon calculations are relatively new and there can be a lack of consistency in the way the figures are presented. Guidance and regulation will eventually standardise this, but in the meantime, it is down to the user to focus on the detail to make sure that the correct comparisons are being made.

To access EPDs for H+H products and for further advice on how to interpret an EPD click here.

Vertical Opportunity with Creative Structural Integrity

Building Products Index Ltd Blocks, Concrete, Green Walls, Walling Leave a Comment

View the Grass Concrete entry on BPindex

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Vertical Opportunity with Creative Structural Integrity

The Betoconcept range of earth retaining walls from Grass Concrete Ltd combine both structure and aesthetics.
This hospital re-development featured a number Betoconcept earth retaining walls. 


One was a challenging construction, requiring a 4-metre-high wall, which had to work around contiguous concrete piles and incorporate a footbridge link to the main building. With a limited width available, the piles were clad vertically with stone finish Leromur blocks which transitioned into an inclined planted Betoatlas structure.

To find out more about this project

Visit our website to read the full Daventry case study, and many more.

Is this the end of the road for Modular MMC?

Building Products Index Ltd Concrete, Concrete wall panels Leave a Comment

View the H+H entry on BPindex

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Volumetric construction is not the panacea for the housebuilding industry the previous government had hoped it would be. Offsite pioneer Modulous was the most recent casualty of the current swathe of modular building company bankruptcies. This, despite the fact that Modulous, describing itself as a “kit of parts”, had none of the pricey infrastructure of factories that weighed down other volumetric companies such as Ilke Homes and Beattie Passive.

Pioneers and market disrupters are always risky ventures but the following points are particularly relevant in this instance:

  1. There is nothing new in the idea of factory-built homes. And nothing new in the litany of failure of such enterprises.
  2. Volumetric, factory assembled structures do not suit the economic model, the logistical challenges or the skills base of the UK housebuilding sector.
  3. Constantly chasing the ideal of precise, factory-built home units results in repeated losses for investors. When those investors include the Government, taxpayers should be asking questions.

As long ago as 1926, architectural pioneer Walter Gropius speculated on a future where lower-cost housing would be made possible by “the manufacture by mass production methods of stock dwellings which are no longer constructed at the site but are produced in special factories”.

It’s a seductive vision. Muddy building sites replaced by clean, productive factories building homes with precision in quality-controlled settings. Repeated government-backed attempts to kick-start a modular construction industry looks to the mass production of vehicles as a model – but is that analogy convincing?

There are numerous problems with the factory-built homes vision of MMC, but let’s just focus on one – the financial model.

Factory-built homes need factories. Factories involve huge investment and require a reliable and consistent market for their products. UK housebuilding, with its near total reliance on consumer confidence, has simply never provided that degree of consistency.

In its review of the modular housing sector “Modern Methods of Construction – what’s gone wrong?” the Built Environment Select Committee looked for answers from, among others, Homes England which was keen to defend its significant investment in modular factory companies. The conclusion of this scrutiny was summarised in January this year by Chair Lord Moylan: “The Government needs to change tack. Simply throwing money at the sector hasn’t worked.” Food for thought for the new Labour government.

A problem of presentation?

Part of the problem is with the presentation of MMC as a concept. Modern does not necessarily equate to pre-assembled and Method does not necessarily mean factory-based house units. The accepted definition of MMC (following on from the Farmer Report) is based around seven categories and only Category One requires the use of factory-built entities.

As Lord Moylan indicates, government funding whose objective is to deliver a greater volume of high-quality homes, needs better targeting, informed by a much deeper understanding of the structure of the UK housebuilding sector. Surely the Government’s role should be to stimulate the market and invest in new social housing, but be less enthusiastic in trying to dictate how new homes should be delivered.

H+H has always supported innovative approaches to house construction – our own Vertical Wall Panels and i-House System represent a strong commitment to new concepts and radical ideas. The difference is that these initiatives are evolutionary, rather than revolutionary.

The Built Environment Select Committee acknowledged the success of much Category Two MMC innovation (where our Vertical Wall Panel solution fits), and of the remaining five categories. That recognition absolutely supports the principle of evolutionary change.

Rather than going through another expensive loop of financial support for a delivery model that has proven so problematic, we would strongly advocate the new government takes the time to really understand the housebuilding supply chain; focuses on creating an economic environment in which housebuilding can grow to meet demand; and leave the mechanics to the industry itself.

For more information on H+H Vertical Wall Panels visit https://www.hhcelcon.co.uk/products-applications/methods-modern-mmc/system-build-vertical-wall-panels

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