Construction BUSINESS

In a recent session of the House of Lords’ Built Environment Committee, Housing Secretary Michael Gove rejected the idea of a Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) taskforce, despite a previous promise of a £10 million initiative that never materialized. Gove acknowledged that other pressing issues took precedence over the taskforce, responding to criticism from the committee, which had questioned the lack of activity in a report released the previous month. Gove credited the shift in priorities within the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities under new leadership since the taskforce’s announcement in the 2021 Budget.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s initial enthusiasm for MMC was acknowledged by Gove during the committee session. Responding to a query about the taskforce’s relevance, Gove stated that he did not believe it was necessary, but recognized differing opinions. He defended the government’s commitment to the MMC sector, citing conditions set by Homes England’s Affordable Homes Programme and a £15 million loan to modular housebuilder TopHat in November.

The committee further scrutinized Homes England’s strategy, criticizing the lack of a unified strategy document. Committee chair Lord Moylan questioned whether Homes England had a strategy at all. Gove argued that the existence of a strategy shouldn’t be dismissed merely because it’s spread across multiple documents, likening it to the constitution of the United Kingdom.

Despite the government’s stance, the debate over the future of MMC in the UK housing sector persists, with Christy Hayes, CEO of volumetric builder Tide, expressing support for the sector’s benefits in terms of quality, speed, sustainability, and safety. As the government is expected to respond to the committee’s recommendations within the next four weeks, the discussion over MMC’s role in addressing the housing crisis continues.