Can off-site manufacture improve the productivity and sustainability of the construction industry? Lords to hear evidence
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will take evidence for its inquiry investigating Off-site manufacture for construction on Tuesday 24 April. The Committee will hear from house builders and engineering experts.
The Committee will consider the potential benefits of off-site manufacture and the implications of its use for architects, design engineers, contractors and the supply chain. The session will also explore the opportunities off-site manufacture offers for building high quality, affordable housing.
At 3.20pm the Committee will question:
- Professor Jeremy Watson CBE, Vice-Dean of Engineering Sciences and Professor of Engineering Systems, University College London;
- Phil Wilbraham, Expansion Programme Director, Heathrow Airport; and
- Professor Jennifer Whyte, Director of the Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation, Imperial College London.
At 4.20pm the Committee will hear from:
- Rosie Toogood, CEO, Legal and General Modular Homes;
- Jamie Ratcliff, Assistant Director (Housing), Greater London Authority; and
- Tim Carey, National Product Director, Willmott Dixon.
Questions the Committee are likely to ask include:
- What are the opportunities offered by offsite manufacture for construction? What are the likely drawbacks?
- How can the planning system be used to encourage the use of off-site manufacture for construction for housing?
- What re-skilling of the construction workforce is required to facilitate a change to more off-site manufacture for construction?
- What should the construction sector deal include?
The evidence session will begin at 3.20pm in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords.
The evidence session will begin at 3.20pm in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords.
