Seeking Traditional Construction Companies for £800m Construction Framework with Building Better

Integrated Traditional Build & MMC Framework Transforms Social Housing Construction

The UK's social housing sector is set to undergo a significant transformation with the introduction of the Integrated Traditional Build & MMC Framework. This innovative approach combines conventional building techniques with modern, offsite, or modular construction methods to improve efficiency, quality, and sustainability in social housing projects.

Developed by the National Housing Federation-backed alliance, Procurement for Housing and Building Better, this £800m framework aims to harness the expertise of traditional SME construction firms while boosting the adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC) in social housing.

The framework is designed to overcome barriers that local authorities and housing providers face when adopting MMC alone. By blending traditional methods with innovative modern practices, the framework facilitates smoother adoption, faster build times, and better cost and carbon savings.

Key goals of this integrated framework include improving delivery speed and reducing costs, lowering embodied carbon, enhancing quality control, addressing risk and operational challenges, and supporting local authority confidence and uptake.

Traditional contractors are still being consulted in the design of the framework, with Tony Woods, technical manager for construction & sustainability at Procurement for Housing, stating that traditional contractors want to be engaged early in the MMC project process and have similar requests as offsite manufacturers. Trina Chakravarti, director of Building Better, also wants a blend of different construction methods on MMC projects.

The framework will include the construction of housing, apartments, and extra care homes, with traditional contractors based in 10 different regions in England and Wales being appointed. A contract notice will be issued in March 2024, with successful bidders for the framework expected to be appointed in the summer.

The framework will operate for four years and will implement a regional lot structure to ensure a wide range of construction solutions is offered to housing associations and councils. The framework also seeks ways to implement a more transparent working method with wider use of 'pain and gain' agreements and a simpler, more collaborative contracting environment.

The development of the Integrated Traditional Build & MMC Framework comes amidst government debates on whether Awaab's Law should be extended to the private housing sector due to the decline in the quality of homes in the UK. This framework offers a pragmatic path to scale modern construction methods while managing risks and leveraging existing capabilities, enabling the sector to accelerate housing delivery, improve sustainability, and enhance occupant well-being in a more controlled and data-informed manner.

[1] Procurement for Housing and Building Better (2023). Integrated Traditional Build & MMC Framework. [Online]. Available: https://www.procurementforhousing.co.uk/news-and-events/news/integrated-traditional-build-mmc-framework

[2] National Housing Federation (2023). Integrated Traditional Build & MMC Framework. [Online]. Available: https://www.housing.org.uk/news/integrated-traditional-build-mmc-framework

[3] Construction News (2023). Integrated Traditional Build & MMC Framework to boost MMC in social housing. [Online]. Available: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/news/integrated-traditional-build-mmc-framework-to-boost-mmc-in-social-housing-10-6-2023/

Seeking Traditional Construction Companies for £800m Construction Framework with Building Better