In the dynamic world of construction, several countries are poised for a significant surge in the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Foremost among them is the UK, where a perfect storm of factors, from an ageing construction workforce to the imperative of meeting escalating housing demands, is driving change. With a quarter of the construction workforce expected to retire in the next decade and the need for an annual housing delivery increase of 24%, the UK is primed for a remarkable transformation. Regulatory shifts toward greater energy efficiency further amplify this trend, with MMC expected to account for nearly 20% of housing construction by 2030, up from the current 10%.
Similar growth patterns are anticipated on the West Coast of the United States, particularly in California, where the need to construct 3.5 million homes by 2025 clashes with a severe labor shortage exceeding 400,000 vacant construction jobs. This scenario is set to propel MMC to the forefront, with an expected overall usage increase to nearly 10% by 2030. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Dubai are gearing up for groundbreaking innovations. Saudi Arabia, facing the ambitious task of building 1.5 million homes in the next five to seven years, has entered into a collaboration with US MMC start-up Katerra to deliver 4,000 homes. Dubai, on the other hand, is embracing 3D printing, with regulations mandating that 25% of components in all new buildings be 3D-printed by 2025. In the short term, the convergence of labor shortages and the imperative to augment housing supply will be the primary drivers for MMC adoption in markets like the UK and the US. Looking ahead, however, the imperative to address construction’s environmental impact is expected to propel MMC into a global adoption phase over the medium to long term. As the world grapples with the pressing need for sustainable construction practices, MMC is emerging as a beacon for the future of building.
