UK housing developer L&Q has developed its own Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) strategy in an effort to deliver all of its new build homes using MMC by 2025.

This announcement comes after the firm made a commitment to deliver 100,000 new homes with like-minded partners over the next 10 years.

Using a Product Innovation team, L&Q drove forward plans for off-site construction.

Fiona Fletcher-Smith, L&Q's Group Director of Development, said: "To achieve large volumes of building, while still maintaining quality, we needed to innovate. Off-site offers a world of exciting possibilities - faster build programmes, improved build quality, tackling the skills shortage and reduced project costs. Some people get nervous when they hear a part of their home has been built in a factory. But it actually guarantees better quality, because these are better environments for assembling and building in than the harsh outdoor climate. Ultimately, we believe this will be better for our customers. Their homes will be better quality, more cost effective, built faster whilst still holding the benefits of traditionally built homes."


The housing association will also launch its first range of pre-built product designs next month, including bathroom units and balconies, which will then be produced next year.

An expert team of consultants in architecture, engineering and construction was also formed to address whether off-site technology can achieve quantity and quality.

Speaking on the team's results, Wayne Hill, L&Q's Construction Services Director, commented: "The findings of the group were very positive and helped develop an approach that can utilise the efficient benefits of MMC whilst retaining the flexibility of traditional construction approaches. This has now formed the basis of L&Q's phased roadmap towards fully integrated MMC build solutions. This approach to working between client, consultant and supplier is encouraging peer-to-peer learning, trust and bridging the gaps that exist in construction and design, with outputs that will contribute to improvements in the quality and volume of homes we deliver."

L&Q aims to place its first entirely off-site manufactured home on a site by 2028.

(CM/JG)