Donaldson Timber Systems

It has been announced today that in a wholly independent survey, Stewart Milne Timber Systems has been accredited with a “Gold Award” and “Outstanding Achievement” award for customer satisfaction. The awards, run by specialist market research company, In-house Research Ltd, https://inhouse.uk.net/awards  are based purely on our customer feedback.

In the survey year covering customers from 1^st January 2020 to 31^st December 2020, over 90% of customers said they would recommend Stewart Milne Timber Systems to their friends.

The outstanding award has been accredited to Stewart Milne Timber Systems for achieving a Net Promoter Score over 65 placing us in the top 10% of companies measured.

Tom Weston, Chief Executive at In-house Research comments, “We are extremely proud to be working with such a customer focused business.  The ‘Gold Award’ recognises those who put the customers at the heart of everything that they do.  The ‘Outstanding Award’ shows the commitment that Stewart Milne Timber Systems have to go above and beyond for their customers.  This special award places them alongside some of the best companies in the UK for customer service.  It’s only through delivering an exceptional service throughout the customer journey, combined with a meticulously designed and finished home that recommendation scores reach this level.  We are so pleased to recognise all the staff at Stewart Milne Timber Systems that have contributed to the achievement of both these awards”.

Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH), the innovation consortium set up to transform the housebuilding sector, has today published its second-year progress report showing encouraging results and key learnings for the sector.  AIMCH is a three-year research & development project aiming to help tackle the UK housing crisis by building new homes faster, to higher quality and more cost effectively than masonry methods using panelised MMC systems.

This latest report to be published by AIMCH highlights several key learnings for the industry across several important and innovative areas. One highlight is the ability to achieve a weather tight, insulated and secure superstructure in just one day. All advanced panelised MMC systems and lean construction solutions trialled so far have been successful and early analysis is recognising the benefits of these advanced panelised MMC systems with the hard data to back it up.

Other important outputs of the project in the last year include the completion of several studies and the publication of guides for industry:

• Design standardisation and the development of product families
• Guide to creating a BIM housing manual
• Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA)
• Designing a future factory

Stewart Dalgarno, AIMCH Project Director and Stewart Milne Group Director of Product Development, said: “Despite the challenges of Covid-19, the project team has worked hard to build momentum and has delivered some important outputs which confirm panelised modern methods of construction (MMC) as a very real and viable alternative to masonry, over the final year, we hope to take this to a new level.”

Mark Farmer, MMC expert and new AIMCH Chair, said: “Mainstreaming all categories of MMC is more important than ever.  In a post-Covid world the sector needs to transform productivity, improve quality as well as improving the welfare of its workforce.  We also need to find more sustainable ways of building in order to achieve a net zero-carbon built environment.

“The AIMCH project has already made great progress across a number of fronts which will better enable greater MMC adoption across all parts of industry including   SME’s. The work done on design standardisation, panelised and sub-assembly system applications, productivity and carbon measurement and manufacturing process optimisation are all rich sources of knowledge for others to learn from and use.”

A collaboration between Stewart Milne Group, Barratt Developments, L&Q, Forster Group, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), the project compares conventional and panelised MMC construction methods on actual building sites, and the impact scaling up panelised modern methods of construction (MMC) will have on the housebuilding industry.

The three-year AIMCH project, which has been live since early 2019, has been trialling new digital design tools, manufacturing advancements, and improved near-to-market offsite panelised MMC systems, using lean site processes on live housing projects over the past two years.

The project recognises the challenges of MMC manufacturing and through engagement with MTC, lead manufacturing partner, has conducted advanced manufacturing and digital business systems studies.  These include down selection process for a integrated ERP system for MMC manufacturing and installation, along with detailed proof of concept studies into specific manufacturing areas, where using robotics and advanced automation can improve MMC manufacturing output, productivity, quality and lower costs, including the design of future factories using mathematical models, dynamic simulation and 3D technology to improve investment decisions.

With decarbonisation of the built environment a priority, the project embarked on a study to measure and profile Embodied Carbon and Whole Life Costing in the use of MMC systems across four housing types to current and near zero carbon standards.  A strategy for a proof of concept, near zero carbon home trial was also developed with Barratt Developments.

The project also recognises the importance of SMEs and through the roofing specialist Forster Group it has helped accelerate their roofing technology, through collaborative learning and proof of concept trials with MTC and the AIMCH developers. Dissemination is important and provided by CSIC including presenting at several key industry events, a dedicated industry stakeholder group, project website and social media.

The goal of the project is to support the sector by delivering 120,000 homes for the same or less cost than traditional methods and built 30% quicker. The project has potential to impact on 35,000 homes being delivered by AIMCH partners across the UK each year.

In the project’s final year, a number of outputs and learnings for the sector will be completed and shared on the AIMCH website as well as at industry events, with final findings published in March 2022.

Hertfordshire’s leading organisations are committing to sustainable housebuilding, which will see the county use offsite manufacturing (OSM) and modern methods of construction (MMC), to accelerate the delivery of sustainable homes.
An informal consortium of nearly 20 housing providers, led by Watford Community Housing and supported by Herts Innovation Quarter, Hertfordshire Growth Board and Hertfordshire LEP, has committed to scale up its use of OSM methods to speed up the progress of the county’s target to build 100,000 new homes by 2036, and enable the county to meet its net zero carbon targets.
The Hertfordshire Offsite Manufacturing Programme is streamlining the operational route to delivery by adapting planning policies, procurement routes and operational approaches to support the use of OSM to deliver sustainable growth for Hertfordshire. Standardisation is also being put in place, to help the consortium members achieve economies of scale, as well as optimising good design and place-making principles.

OSM market leaders Stewart Milne Timber Systems and Elements Europe are working in partnership with the programme, to help embed the foundations for accelerated delivery, building expertise and capacity within local delivery teams.

Hertfordshire is also encouraging the use of MMC and OSM through Herts IQ  www.herts-iq.co.uk , the county’s Enterprise Zone with its innovation partner BRE, and global leader in the built environment and founding partner of the UK’s Construction Innovation Hub. Herts IQ is attracting a cluster of smart construction and clean tech companies on prime commercial sites near J8 of the M1.

The Hertfordshire OSM programme is expected to deliver a raft of benefits for both housing providers, home owners and tenants, including reduced carbon, higher levels of sustainability, less construction waste and lower total development cost, due to lower whole life costs and lower costs in use.

MMC and OSM can achieve around 37% better thermal performance than Building Regulations, meaning lower energy consumption and energy bills. It also offers higher standards of fit and finish at handover, without time consuming snagging helping housing providers secure earlier rental income and less neighbourhood disruption.

Patsy Dell, Director of Growth, Hertfordshire Growth Board said: “Hertfordshire is heralding a new era of housebuilding by embracing offsite to deliver homes at scale to meet our future needs.

“Thanks to the OSM programme, we can not only accelerate housing delivery but ensure that it is underpinned by best practice in design and sustainability, creating homes fit for the future that will support generations to come.”

Tina Barnard, Chief Executive, Watford Community Housing said: “We’re proud to be leading this consortium to help drive the supply of sustainable homes for Hertfordshire.

“We plan to utilise offsite construction methods for at least 50% of the homes built by Watford Community Housing and our J-V partners over the next four years, to deliver environmentally-friendly, cost-effective and energy-efficient homes for our customers.”

“In doing so, we’ll also support Homes England in its goal to ensure that at least a quarter of the homes delivered through its funding programmes make use of offsite construction.

We are already well underway with our Northcotts development in Watford, which is due for completion in summer 2022 and will deliver 18 new homes built using modular construction methods.”

Richard Whitehead, Board member at Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Chair of Herts IQ said: “We’re committed to supporting the use of offsite methods of construction in Hertfordshire because it delivers many benefits to both housing providers and residents.

“With Herts IQ, we’re creating the right conditions for offsite manufacturers and supply chains to innovate, collaborate and thrive in Hertfordshire and we look forward to welcoming more forward thinking, sustainable companies to join our growing business community.”

Hertfordshire IQ is an Enterprise Zone 30 minutes from London in Hemel Hempstead on J8 of the M1 offering tax breaks and innovation support. Hertfordshire IQ is run by seven partners all committed to its long term success and creating a great place to live and work: Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, BRE Group, Rothamsted Research and the University of Hertfordshire, St Albans City and District Council, Dacorum Borough Council, and Hertfordshire County Council.

www.herts-iq.co.uk

About Hertfordshire Growth Board

The Hertfordshire Growth Board is made up of Hertfordshire’s 10 district and borough councils, Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Together they are committed to working together to deliver an ambitious growth agenda to support a thriving economy, with affordable housing, a sustainable transport network, excellent schools and healthcare facilities.

https://www.hertfordshiregrowthboard.com

@hertsgoodgrowth

Media contact

Katy Newman katy.newman@hertfordshirelep.co.uk

07770 635305

Stewart Milne Timber Systems continues to develop its market-leading position in the offsite manufacturing sector after reporting significant growth with a strong current forward order book of over £200million.

The business has announced their accounts for a 16-month period from July 2018 to October 2019, following a change to its financial year end. During this period the business reported a significant growth in turnover to £120 million with an operating profit of £9 million. This growth is due to the further development of a number of significant client relationships and the associated product innovation to meet demand across the UK for offsite construction.

While the disruption caused by the pandemic will inevitably show an impact on trading in the financial year to October 2020, Stewart Milne Timber Systems continued to perform well, with monthly trading and profit recovering to pre-lockdown levels from late summer.

Rod Allan, Managing Director, said: “The demand for modern methods of construction continues to rise as the need for us to build in a more sustainable, carbon conscious way becomes ever more crucial. “Our innovation and increased capacity, combined with our focus on building high value, high growth, long term partnerships with our housebuilder customers means we are very well-placed to provide highly efficient solutions to meet the challenges. We look forward with confidence to executing the next phase of our investment plans.”

When it comes to identifying lasting solutions that could help to end the housing crisis, it’s vital that innovation is placed at the heart of Scottish strategy.

Homes For Scotland (HFS) estimates that Scotland needs 25,000 new homes every year in order to keep up with housing demand, not including the 80,000 shortfall in the supply of housing since the crash in 2008.

A sharp increase in completions remains a real priority if Scotland is to meet its overall target of delivering 50,000 affordable homes by 2021.

With that in mind, the sustained lack of supply requires radical ideas and a real step change in thinking. Not only is it about meeting housing demand by producing homes quickly and at scale, it’s also about a meaningful response to heightened demand for ecologically responsible practices.

A more considered, forward-thinking approach is therefore required to transform and modernise how tomorrow’s homes are built.

Finding methods that combine speed, quality and efficiency in order to build affordable, high-quality and low carbon, efficient homes is a huge priority for Scotland.

Among the most viable solutions is the flagship three-year housing innovation project Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH) which aims to combat the UK housing crisis through a significant collaborative effort delivered by a number of industry leaders.

This project involves major private, public and academic partners and the goal is to transform how the construction industry builds homes. It is being managed by Limberger Associates, and includes Stewart Milne Group, Barratt Developments PLC, London Quadrant Housing Trust Ltd, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre and Forster Roofing Services Ltd.

Through the increasingly popular methodology of offsite construction, digital working and lean site assembly, we collectively believe that the sustainable, highly integrated construction approach offered by AIMCH represents a strong alternative to traditional construction methods.

It’s about thinking differently and embracing fresh concepts that can be quickly scaled up in order to effectively respond to demand for homes, skills shortages in the building industry, and heightened environmental considerations.

Key among these concepts is offsite construction which emphasises sustainability. Indeed, its ability to significantly increase the speed at which a home’s structure can be created reduces wastage and risk in a significantly more efficient and cost-effective manner.

The Innovation-led consortium AIMCH is dedicated to a specific aim, however – of identifying and honing the industrialised offsite panelised methods that will help to meaningfully meet current and future housebuilding demands. These solutions are set to be trialled with the most successful being taken forward, commercialised, and then brought to market. That can only have a positive impact on the Scottish housing market’s shortage of supply.

With that in mind, data is currently being gathered from live construction sites in order to provide better insights, more informed decision-making, and to aid business cases for change and investment across the industry.

Indeed, a research report published by AIMCH – the project’s first output – examines construction productivity measurement and protocols. The aim is to establish a new, more effective way for businesses of all sizes to use data that demonstrates the value of MMC.

The research, carried out by the University of Dundee in association with Whole Life Consultants and managed by Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), is thought to be one of the most comprehensive the industry has undertaken.

The report considers a total of 66 metrics across safety, productivity, quality, cost, time and material waste, all of which are in turn aligned to the published Smart Construction Dashboard.

It’s thought that aligning these metrics across the housing sector will enable small, medium and large supply chain businesses to demonstrate the value of smart construction and respond consistently to future demands.

Fundamentally, it means supporting the faster delivery of high-quality homes, more reliably and at the same cost as masonry-built homes.

Furthermore, we believe this enhanced understanding of the current measurement landscape now has the potential to deliver tangible benefits to the wider construction industry and other sectors such as transport and infrastructure.

Fresh research and development from the AIMCH project is planned over the next three years. The research will be trialled on live housing projects, with successful new methods then being commercialised and brought to market in volume.

Indeed, as part of the AIMCH project, DTS has been working on some advanced timber frame trials. On two of the plots pre-tiled roofs were assembled on the floor slabs on site – increasing health and safety as no-one was having to work from height.

The next stage will be to complete the commercial analysis of the trials to identify the product development ideas trialled which can be taken forward for construction’s future strategy.

AIMCH seeks to advance digitally integrated solutions in design standardisation, design for manufacture, supply chain integration, enhanced offsite panelised systems and lean construction processes. This data-led approach is expected to further streamline the process.

If we are to navigate Scotland’s housing shortage by successfully introducing lasting sustainable solutions, then innovation frameworks such as AIMCH must be considered among the country’s strongest strategies.

Stewart Dalgarno, Director of Product Development at Stewart Milne Group, discusses the future of construction.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the construction industry to move ahead with innovative projects and products more quickly than previously estimated.  Those within the industry have realised a greater need for the wider adoption of innovative solutions in order to meet build targets. While several technologies were already established, it has now become a case of needing to accelerate their use in order to meet the demand set by a clearer focus on the housing industry.

The work being undertaken by the Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH) project underpins this.

Bringing together significant players within the sector to transform how homes are built, with the intention of combatting the UK housing crisis, it helps to deliver vital data for better decision-making whilst supporting change and investment within the industry to streamline the construction process.

Some of the trials Donaldson Timber Systems have been involved in through the project have seen houses built at a much more efficient speed compared to traditional bricks and mortar construction – one home was erected in just six hours.

Since the changes brought into play by coronavirus, it’s clear to see that many who have adopted new measures plan to stick with them; and that, more and more, executives are placing real value on data that will help drive productivity.

Looking ahead to the future, with the UK Government committing to building 300,000 homes per year, we expect to see a much greater uptake of modern methods of construction – like offsite manufacturing, which allows for homes to be built more efficiently, at a lower cost and at speed.

Not only are we trying to meet housing demand by producing more, and at scale, it’s also about a meaningful response to heightened demand for ecologically responsible practices – including the use of sustainable products with a low carbon footprint.

Smart construction methods, allowing for houses to be built without the need for scaffolding, thereby reducing the number of people required on site, will continue to grow in the coming months and years – especially important to note during times of social distancing.

The future will also bring with it a more entrenched sense of collaboration in industry, allowing for the standardisation of key housing components – whether it’s window sizes, doors, or walls.  Stewart Milne Group, together with L&Q and Barratt, are currently looking at this, with the aim of providing a level of standardisation similar to what we see already in the car industry. The next step will be to work with the supply chain to develop these and trial them in future homes.

Not only will this help to improve productivity and reliability, it can also be applied to any type of building – not just housing.

The pandemic has demonstrated how quickly social change can occur – and the power of the government in driving that change through initiatives like ‘Build, Build, Build’.

At Donaldson Timber Systems, we are lucky to be able to continue with the manufacturing of timber frames through our factory facility, which allows for safety measures like physical distancing to be put in place. With the pandemic presenting an ever-changing challenge, we are at least safe in the knowledge that housebuilding will no longer be adversely affected where these methods of construction are adopted.

Stewart Dalgarno,  Director of Product Development at Stewart Milne Group, discusses the future of construction.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the construction industry to move ahead with innovative projects and products more quickly than previously estimated.  Those within the industry have realised a greater need for the wider adoption of innovative solutions in order to meet build targets. While several technologies were already established, it has now become a case of needing to accelerate their use in order to meet the demand set by a clearer focus on the housing industry.

The work being undertaken by the Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH) project underpins this.

Bringing together significant players within the sector to transform how homes are built, with the intention of combatting the UK housing crisis, it helps to deliver vital data for better decision-making whilst supporting change and investment within the industry to streamline the construction process.

Some of the trials Donaldson Timber Systems have been involved in through the project have seen houses built at a much more efficient speed compared to traditional bricks and mortar construction – one home was erected in just six hours.

Since the changes brought into play by coronavirus, it’s clear to see that many who have adopted new measures plan to stick with them; and that, more and more, executives are placing real value on data that will help drive productivity.

Looking ahead to the future, with the UK Government committing to building 300,000 homes per year, we expect to see a much greater uptake of modern methods of construction – like offsite manufacturing, which allows for homes to be built more efficiently, at a lower cost and at speed.

Not only are we trying to meet housing demand by producing more, and at scale, it’s also about a meaningful response to heightened demand for ecologically responsible practices – including the use of sustainable products with a low carbon footprint.

Smart construction methods, allowing for houses to be built without the need for scaffolding, thereby reducing the number of people required on site, will continue to grow in the coming months and years – especially important to note during times of social distancing.

The future will also bring with it a more entrenched sense of collaboration in industry, allowing for the standardisation of key housing components – whether it’s window sizes, doors, or walls.  Stewart Milne Group, together with L&Q and Barratt, are currently looking at this, with the aim of providing a level of standardisation similar to what we see already in the car industry. The next step will be to work with the supply chain to develop these and trial them in future homes.

Not only will this help to improve productivity and reliability, it can also be applied to any type of building – not just housing.

The pandemic has demonstrated how quickly social change can occur – and the power of the government in driving that change through initiatives like ‘Build, Build, Build’.

At Donaldson Timber Systems, we are lucky to be able to continue with the manufacturing of timber frames through our factory facility, which allows for safety measures like physical distancing to be put in place. With the pandemic presenting an ever-changing challenge, we are at least safe in the knowledge that housebuilding will no longer be adversely affected where these methods of construction are adopted.

With UK housing availability adversely affecting millions, and the economy sinking into recession as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, we must adapt and evolve quickly to meet housebuilding demand, and to ensure we can align with the Government’s net-zero 2050 goals.

It’s been a challenging year for many, but one positive that Coronavirus has brought is an understanding of the need for wider adoption of industry solutions. While several technologies were already established, it was a case of needing to accelerate their use in order to meet the demand now set by a clearer focus on the housing industry.

The work being undertaken by the Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH) project underpins this.

The flagship three-year AIMCH housing innovation project was established in 2019, bringing together significant players within the sector to transform how homes are built with the intention of combatting the UK housing crisis.

The project helps to deliver vital data for better decision-making, whilst supporting change and investment within the industry to streamline the construction process. Since the changes brought into play by Coronavirus, it’s clear to see that many who have adopted new measures plan to stick with them; and that, more and more, executives are placing real value on data that will help drive productivity.

The housing shortage is a real problem. The Government committed to building 300,000 homes per year, and this simply can’t be done using traditional construction methods alone – heightening the need for industry to collaborate, and for MMC to be embraced.

Speed, quality and efficiency are all challenges faced by the sector. Not only are we trying to meet housing demand by producing more, and at scale, it’s also about a meaningful response to heightened demand for ecologically responsible practices – such as digital working, lean site assembly, using sustainable products and offsite construction.

Whilst offsite construction is becoming more popular thanks to a combination of factors – from environmental considerations to skills shortages in the industry and, of course, the heightened demand for homes – adaptations to on site methods cannot be ignored.

Stewart Milne Group has been working alongside Barratt and other AIMCH partners to trial new, smart construction methods on the Pewterspear site near Warrington.

We worked on developing MMC panelised prototyping – closed panel systems with pre-fitted windows and pre-finished floors. These plots could be erected without the need for scaffolding, and pre-tiled roofs assembled on site at ground level, in a bid to increase health and safety by eliminating the need to work from height and reducing the number of workers required on site – particularly important in times of social distancing.

They could also be delivered at speed – with one home on this site being erected in just six hours. The project generated plenty of attention, with the Prime Minister even paying a visit to the site just weeks after the announcement of his housing strategy.

A commercial analysis is set to be completed with the wider AIMCH team to help identify product development ideas that can be taken forward for our future strategy in construction. Research such as this will be trialled on live housing projects throughout the next three years, with the aim being to commercialise successful new methods, bringing them to market in volume.

Stewart Milne Group, together with L&Q and Barratt, are also looking into the standardisation of home fittings and fixtures – walls, windows, and doors. The aim is to be able to provide the level of standardisation that can be witnessed in the car industry, and the next step will be to work with the supply chain to develop these and trial them in future homes.

Not only will this help to improve productivity and reliability, and help with both quality management and material scheduling, it can be applied to any type of building – not just housing; and we are in the process of establishing an industry guide to encourage a move towards BIM (Building Information Modelling).

The pandemic has demonstrated how quickly social change can occur – and the power of the government in driving that change. These are strong conditions for Government to reinforce the climate-positive behaviours that have emerged during lockdown throughout industry. The ‘Build, Build, Build’ directive is a positive first step.

As we work towards achieving net zero by 2050, it is vital the entire industry and government operate  in partnership to bring together developments in skills, procurement, design, products and materials; as well as ensuring that the steps taken in the years ahead deliver the quality and performance necessary for whole-life low carbon buildings.

We are delighted to announce that Stewart Milne Timber Systems are the winners of the Housebuilder HBF 2020 Product Award for ‘Best Building Fabric Product’ with our Sigma® II Build System.

Our Sigma® II Build System is a cost effective, closed panel, fabric first solution that delivers an affordable, reliable, simple to install Build System, promoting a ‘Fit and Forget’ approach to the building’s fabric. The system considers whole life cycle costing, embodied carbon, technical compliance and longevity over a 60-year design life, underpinned by BBA Product Approval and Lloyds BOPAS Accreditation.

Sigma® II is growing in demand, and accounts for 1.5% of market potential, supplying around 1,000 homes annually. Our factories have capacity to manufacture 3,000 units per annum; investment will increase capacity to 10,000 homes in 5 years. The Sigma® II Build System delivers sustainability whilst being cost-effective.

We are very proud to win this award. In addition, the winner from each category will be a finalist at the Housebuilder Awards 2020, originally planned to be held at the Intercontinental London at the O2 in October. We’re looking forward to the results!

With UK housing availability adversely affecting millions, we must adapt and evolve quickly to meet the UK housebuilding demand. Working with Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH), helps us to deliver vital data for better decision-making, whilst supporting change and investment within the industry to streamline the construction process.

The flagship three-year AIMCH housing innovation project was established in 2019, bringing together significant players within the sector to transform how homes are built with the intention of combatting the UK housing crisis. Current government statistics project that a further 120,000 homes are needed annually, with a specific focus on affordable homes – yet traditional construction methods alone aren’t enough.

Managed by Limberger Associates, Stewart Milne Group joined AIMCH alongside Barratt Developments PLC, London Quadrant Housing Trust Ltd, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre and Forster Roofing Services Ltd.
Speed, quality and efficiency are all challenges faced by the sector. Not only are we trying to meet housing demand by producing more, and at scale, it’s also about a meaningful response to heightened demand for ecologically responsible practices – such as digital working, lean site assembly, and offsite construction.
Offsite construction is becoming more and more popular thanks to a combination of factors; from environmental considerations, to skills shortages in the industry and, of course, the heightened demand for homes. Offering a practical and efficient alternative to traditional building methods, it speeds up the construction process and lowers the project’s carbon footprint by reducing wastage. However, adaptations to on site methods cannot be ignored.

Here at Stewart Milne Timber Systems, we have trialled new smart construction methods along with Barratt Homes, at the Pewterspear site near Warrington. A commercial analysis is set to be completed with the wider AIMCH team, to help identify product development ideas that can be taken forward for our future strategy in construction.

At Pewterspear, the pre-tiled roofs of two plots were assembled at ground level on site, in a bid to increase health and safety by eliminating the need to work from height. Research such as this will be trialled on live housing projects throughout the next three years, with the aim being to commercialise successful new methods, bringing them to market in volume.

Not only does the AIMCH work deliver a new, more effective way for businesses of all sizes to use data insights to demonstrate the value of MMC, it also allows us to respond consistently to future demands. The £6.5 million research and development project has the potential to impact on up to 35,000 of the homes to be delivered by project partners across the UK annually. Its recent construction productivity report has the potential to deliver tangible benefits now to the wider construction industry and other sectors such as transport and infrastructure.

Stewart Milne Timber Systems already manufactures high-quality timber frames which are ready made, to be transported on-site and erected, but our collaboration within industry through projects like AIMCH will be critical in bridging the housing gap. It is expected the project will deliver new valuable digital design tools, manufacturing advancements and leading offsite systems which can be adopted by others within the housing sector to improve and increase housebuilding efficiency and quality.

The project provides a promising foundation to addressing challenges faced by the sector. Only through continued innovation such as AIMCH and government funding into housing via schemes such as the Home Building Fund, will we be able to create and sustain a long-term solution to meet housebuilding demands.