JANUARY 2007
Following the success of its inaugural project, a web-based resource tool on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), NHBC’s independent research institution – the NHBC Foundation – has today (January 12, 2007) published the findings of its research on the same topic.
Launched in January in partnership with the BRE Trust and chaired by former Housing Minister Rt. Hon. Nick Raynsford MP, the Foundation has been involved in a programme of research and positive engagement with Development Agencies, other stakeholders and Government, focusing on the new build sector.
Nick Raynsford said: “We promised practical, workable solutions when we launched the Foundation and I am pleased that we have been able to carry through this intention with our work on MMC. Our first publication - A Guide to Modern Methods of Construction – is a comprehensive body of work drawing together expertise from within NHBC together with external systems specialists and developers including Willmott Dixon, Jephson Housing and the Guinness Trust.”
The Guide looks in detail at how to approach MMC projects, together with flow charts giving suggestions on the systems and processes which developers and builders will need to adopt on MMC projects. Detail on the types of MMC will help the industry by bringing clarity to an area where the pace of change is great and last week’s policy statement on carbon neutral homes in the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report present ever increasing challenges.
“In the near future the Foundation will publish research on Energy, Waste and Water Management which will be followed by a Guide for Lenders on risk management in MMC projects,” said Mr Raynsford. “The Foundation’s continuing programme of innovation and engagement will ensure that these and future projects remain relevant to the new build industry and broaden our knowledge and understanding of issues which concerns us now and in the future.”
The Foundation has also held a series of stakeholder seminars and dinners over the year bringing together key bodies across the country, among them the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Treasury, the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). These round-table discussions have focused on topics as wide ranging as infrastructure financing and delivery, development and regeneration, sustainability, the environment and the regulatory framework.
Currently the Foundation is supporting the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the BRE’s joint research on housing design by providing detailed information on present and historical issues affecting the new house-building industry. This work aims to support CABE’s series of regional housing audits and to allow placement of results within a wider context.
To download a copy of the research document please click here
To request a printed copy of the research please contact the Foundation Press Office, contact details for which can be found here
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
At present the NHBC Foundation’s research programme for 2007 is planned to cover the following topics:
- Ground source energy systems in housing developments – the aim of this project is to identify the benefits and barriers associated with ground source energy systems in housing developments.
- Domestic basement construction - with the recent rise in the construction of basements in new homes, the Foundation will undertake a project to review current design guidance as well as regulatory, performance and planning issues.
- Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) – in line with legislative changes which come into force next year, the Foundation is developing a checklist and toolbox talk on SWMPs for builders providing important guidance on how to implement an effective site waste management plan.
- Hydraulic lime mortars in new build – a review of the structural performance of walls in new builds that are constructed from hydraulic lime mortars.
- Drainage provision for sustainable development - a project is currently underway to improve drainage provision for sustainable developments.
- Micro-generation and renewable energy – the Foundation is seeking to develop a resource to help identify the most appropriate technologies and to help speed up the adoption of those technologies that will be most effective in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
The NHBC Foundation is a was established by NHBC in partnership with the BRE Trust to facilitate research and development, technology and knowledge sharing, and the capture of industry best practice in the pursuit of improved building standards for the new-build housing sector.
NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK. It was established 70 years ago as a non-profit distributing company. NHBC's primary purpose is to help raise standards in the new house-building industry and provide consumer protection for new house buyers. NHBC's ten-year 'Buildmark' warranty covers more than 80 % of homes built in the UK and has protected more than 6 million homes to date.
The BRE Trust is a charity for research and education in the built environment. Its chief goal is to ensure earnings from the companies it owns deliver against its charitable education and research mission. BRE is one of the companies owned by The BRE Trust and it is commissioned to undertake projects by both public and private organisations.