Tomorrow (Tuesday 24 April in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster) The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will take evidence for its inquiry investigating Off-site manufacture for construction. The Committee will hear from house builders and engineering experts.
The Committee considers the potential benefits of off-site manufacture and the implications of its use for architects, design engineers, contractors and the supply chain. The session also explores the opportunities off-site manufacture offers for building high quality, affordable housing.
At 3.20pm the Committee will question:
- Professor Jeremy Watson CBE, Vice-Dean of Engineering Sciences and Professor of Engineering Systems, University College London;
- Phil Wilbraham, Expansion Programme Director, Heathrow Airport; and
- Professor Jennifer Whyte, Director of the Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation, Imperial College London.
At 4.20pm the Committee will hear from:
- Rosie Toogood, CEO, Legal and General Modular Homes;
- Jamie Ratcliff, Assistant Director (Housing), Greater London Authority; and
- Tim Carey, National Product Director, Willmott Dixon.
Questions the Committee are likely to ask include:
- What are the opportunities offered by offsite manufacture for construction? What are the likely drawbacks?
- How can the planning system be used to encourage the use of off-site manufacture for construction for housing?
- What re-skilling of the construction workforce is required to facilitate a change to more off-site manufacture for construction?
- What should the construction sector deal include?
The evidence session will begin at 3.20pm in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords.
