New building methods could be used across Greater Lincolnshire to help bring forward sustainable homes, with a Lincolnshire focused study into Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to try to enable increased use of these innovative techniques.
Modern Methods of Construction are a range of innovative building techniques which move away from traditional build methods. Use of these onsite and offsite can help improve efficiency, build quality and delivery timescales – and importantly – unlock even greater environmental performance and sustainability.
Through partnership work between local authorities, housing associations and providers, construction companies and other such agencies, there’s already a well-established focus across Greater Lincolnshire on providing sustainable homes which meet people’s needs now and in future.
Using input from across the industry the study will identify how modern methods of construction techniques could be harnessed across Greater Lincolnshire. The study will also identify barriers preventing widespread use and solutions from within the public sector to help change this.
Enabling more modern build methods has a number of benefits, including: help ensure more homes are built sustainably and with a lower carbon footprint, attracting inward investment, upskilling workforces and attract new expertise.
The study has been made possible with £25,000 from the Housing Advisors Programme, provided as part of the Local Government Association’s sector led improvement programme funded by UK Government. The bid for this funding was made jointly by Boston Borough Council, City of Lincoln Council, East Lindsey District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and North Kesteven District Council. It was submitted by North Kesteven District Council on behalf of the authorities.
Councillor Paul Skinner, Leader of Boston Borough Council, said: “Receiving this funding for local research into modern methods of construction will allow our councils to understand how we, and our public sector partners, can support local developers to utilise this new way of building homes and take advantage of its benefits. These new methods can assist with meeting housing need, reducing the carbon footprint by building more environmentally friendly homes, and by providing economic benefits.”
Greater Lincolnshire has a mix of factors which influence house building including its varied population, changes in housing need across its rural areas and its towns and cities, the range of development opportunities available, the skills and demographic of its workforce, and more.
There’s also a strong reliance in Greater Lincolnshire on its network of quality regional and local developers.
The study will delve into various aspects of modern methods of construction for homes, from build and supply through to demand. It’ll also look at how these methods relate to and support people’s housing needs, including the availability and affordability of homes and financial security such as the mortgaging of homes and insurance.
The study will take six months to complete, from scoping and identifying current barriers through to identifying solutions and producing a detailed analysis and final report, which will help the creation of an action plan.
For further updates on the study, go to www.e-lindsey.gov.uk