A report published on 19 July says that the construction sector, as it currently operates, “cannot meet the UK’s need for housing and may struggle to meet the need for infrastructure.

Given that the UK already lags behind other countries in construction productivity and is facing a labour shortage, the Government and the construction sector must urgently find solutions”.

In the report Off-site manufacture for construction: building for change, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee says that off-site manufacture (OSM) can help to increase productivity in the construction sector while reducing labour demands, improving the quality and efficiency of buildings, and reducing the environmental impacts associated with traditional construction.

However, the take-up of OSM is varied and somewhat limited across the sector, because it is working with outdated and unsustainable business models that are not conducive to OSM for construction.

OSM requires collaboration between clients, designers and contractors from an early stage, but much of the evidence the Committee received painted a picture of a construction sector that is fragmented and lacking in trust.

These barriers must be addressed by the sector itself, and strong leadership is needed from the Construction Leadership Council.

“While OSM could reduce the labour shortage, the different skills required for manufacturing are currently lacking in the UK labour market and must be developed.

“OSM will require a combination of skills involving site implementation, digital and procurement.

“The Government must therefore ensure that young people entering the workplace are equipped with the digital skills needed for modern methods of construction, including off-site manufacture,” says the report.