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19. Has the scheme made use of advances in construction or technology that enhance its performance, quality, and attractiveness?

Abbotts Wharf, east London

“We want to encourage quicker, better quality house building through…better procurement, good value rather than lowest cost, and through better design and modern methods of construction”. ODPM, 2003

Advanced building technology can contribute to the environmental performance of a home, reduce defects in construction, improve health and safety on site, and increase overall efficiency. It has been shown that using modern methods of construction, up to four times as many homes can be built with the same on-site labour, and on-site construction time can be halved. Modern methods of construction include a variety of build approaches and products, covering off-site manufacturing and innovations in process and the way people work.

Examples of systems that are considered as advanced forms of construction include prefabricated elements such as ‘thin joint blocks’ (glued brick panels), fast track foundations or advanced methods of cladding. They may involve more substantial forms of construction such as tunnel form (concrete formed units) or precast concrete panels, timber or steel panellised wall units and floor cassettes or volumetric construction (also known as modular construction) of kitchen or bathroom pods or even entire apartments fully fitted prior to installation on site.

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The 20 Criteria

Environment & community
Character
Streets, parking & pedestrianisation
Design & construction
Does the development provide (or is it close to) community facilities, such as a school, parks, play areas, shops, pubs or cafes?

Further reading

  • Homing in on excellence: a commentary on the use of offsite fabrication methods for the UK housebuilding industry (The Housing Forum, Rethinking Construction)
  • Manufacturing excellence: UK capacity in offsite manufacturing (Constructing Excellence, 2004)
  • Prefabulous homes: the new house building agenda (David Birkbeck and Andrew Scoones, Constructing Excellence, 2005)
  • Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future (ODPM, 2003); p38
  • Using Modern Methods of Construction to Build Homes More Quickly & Efficiently (National Audit Office,2005); part 2