Anyone working outside of housing would be forgiven for thinking that MMC was some kind of acronym for a motorcycle club. To most people those three letters mean very little, but to housing developers the future looks paved by it. And us? Well, we’re on board for the journey because we need more high quality homes, built faster. And we hope that more people see the benefits too and join us.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is growing in popularity and use. Why? Because quality is high, and efficiency is even higher. But if we are really here to create communities, not just homes, then how does it feed into that goal? We’ve all read the sales pitches; we know that this route is a great evolution of traditional building methods. But why should communities care?
It’s green
Protecting our planet is really important. And it’s something that should matter to all of us. MMC is a greener solution for building homes, not only during the build phase but once residents are settled into their property.
Homes made in this way are made to conserve energy. And we’re building to a high standard, designing light, bright and safe homes. Owners and tenants don’t need to use as much energy when they buy or rent a home made in this way.
When we build like this, we’re also massively reducing waste as its more like precision engineering rather than construction. It also cuts down on pollution as less tradespeople are required on site, and for a shorter period of time too. So neighbouring areas aren’t as affected and because of this, these developments are now generally safer and tidier places to be. It’s a win win in our eyes.
It’s mindful by nature
At its core, MMC is a really mindful approach to building homes. Because most of the manufacturing is done in a factory, the impact on-site to those who live nearby is reduced. This means less noise coupled with a reduced footfall.
So for members of the community who are already at home in the area, MMC offers an efficient alternative to traditional construction. That’s good news for people in Highbridge where we’re building 123 new homes using MMC.
It’s better for wellbeing (yes, really)
It probably sounds strange to say that MMC is advantageous when it comes to wellbeing, but it is. It changes the way we deliver homes, and that includes where we build them.
Building on sites can be challenging because of harsh conditions in winter and summer months, from extreme cold to uncomfortable heat. But by moving the majority of the construction to a controlled environment, quality is easier to achieve and builders are able to work in a much nicer, safer environment.
When we use MMC we’re also building adaptable homes that are future-proofed and affordable. Giving people choice, and a property that they can afford to call home, is essential. And if we can speed up that process and offer more homes at a faster rate, then we’re giving communities the accommodation they need to thrive.
Producing homes faster doesn’t mean we’re doing anything by half, though. We’re part of the Building Better alliance which is supported by the National Housing Federation. Together with our partners we’re utilising a new method of building and contracting which will fundamentally benefit the sector and its customers. Working collaboratively will help us all to achieve greater quality and build in a more efficient, sustainable way.
It’s our future
Modern Methods of Construction is the future in house building. Not just because it helps us do our job in a quicker, safer way, but because it benefits the communities that we’re building those homes for. It’s going to make our collective mindset more collaborative, less transactional. And it’s going to help us create thriving communities in an efficient, mindful way.
Who doesn’t want that?
Strategic Assets and Land Manager
