Social housing reform sees MMC industry respond with award winning concepts 

As organisations put higher pressure on social housing reform, innovative companies are highlighting solutions ready for Councils to employ.

More Housing’s The Parker is one of three contenders shaking up the industry as a whole, vying for top place at the MMC Awards 2023. Nominated for the ‘Project of the Year: Showcasing the Use of MMC in a Domestic Project’.

Showcased at BRE Science Park, internationally renowned for showcasing the latest progressive designs of MMC, sustainable research and innovation in the built environment. The Parker, More Housing’s unique design is gaining recognition for its eco-friendly, mental health aware, turnkey solution for the homelessness crisis, social housing and net zero goals.

The Homes England ‘Affordable Homes Programme’ mandates that 25% of all new social housing homes will have to be constructed using MMC.

The MMC Awards 2023 finale comes one week after the nation took note of the issues of social housing at the annual Offsite Show. Representatives from various industry participants and stake holders from top housing associations, Homes England, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Offsite Alliance, Building Better and others spoke passionately on the benefits and considerations to be taken into account when using MMC and how the MMC industry can provide high quality, sustainable offsite homes to benefit communities.

Mr Hossain, Operations Executive for More Housing said:

‘The award nomination has really been a massive boost of positivity for our work. As MMC becomes better understood, the high standards of manufacture used by More Housing, which rank at an exceptionally high PMV (pre manufactured value) sets a bar for the industry to follow.

‘We’re very proud to be nominated for the award which places us within the top three across the entire UK. It’s giving the whole MMC industry the countrywide exposure that it needs to be recognised as a longterm turnkey solution for Councils keen to be seen to be proactive in their plans for social housing and net zero 2030 goals.

‘Hearing the conversations and questions asked at the recent Offsite Show event, was encouraging. It showed that people’s understanding of MMC and how it works.

‘There’s an assumption that MMC is cheaper because it’s made in a factory. Whereas this is not the case. MMC results in a higher quality home so it is not going to be cheaper initially, but if the design of the building is intelligent, over the cost of the entire life span of the product, it becomes the cheaper option over time. MMC is also incredibly fast. We can deploy units anywhere within the country within a few months of ordering.’

Here’s the quick low down on MMC for Business Matters readers’ not au fait with the term:

MMC stands for Modern Methods of Construction. It means that some or the majority of a property can be constructed within the walls of regulated factory settings and supplied either in panels or completely constructed and ready to be lived in – the latter is known as volumetric and that’s what More Housing specialise in, hence the speed to deliver solutions for social housing.

How is MMC good for the environment?

It reduces wastage as each material can be measured and used correctly first time round.
Materials are recyclable or reusable
Sound and dust pollution on and in the area surrounding the site is massively reduced due to being contained in the factory
MMC supports the design of smart homes. For example, More Housing’s all electric design, supported by solar panels and the latest battery storage systems and MVHR system with air filters work hand in hand with their unique volumetric MMC design to retain heat and manage airflow.

Future proofing to enable long term planning

Thousands of people are currently in temporary housing in need of a home.

‘We know that social housing, executed on a high level within a county by county plan is the most powerful tool for building communities and inspiring people to rebuild their lives and get back into work. Re-starting lives requires entire support systems and we’re glad to be in a position now where Government officials are asking the right questions and pushing plans forwards with MMC.

‘Yes a win would be a wonderful compliment to our team and that of our manufacturing partner, Integra. However even the nomination alone proves that our work is worthwhile and boosts awareness of the efforts being made to create solutions using high grade MMC for councils across the country.’

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Social housing reform sees MMC industry respond with award winning concepts