The Industrialised Construction Conference

A watershed moment for UK construction

_{Neil Pennell}

A Watershed Moment for UK Construction

The inaugural Industrialised Construction Conference, held 2-3 July at Coventry’s Manufacturing Technology Centre, saw more than 25 thought leaders debate a defining shift in UK construction.

Darren Richards, Conference Chair and Managing Director of Cogent Consulting, provides a summary of the event’s key talking points.

_{Darren Richards}

Across the two days, speakers at the event represented a broad cross-section of the policy, structural engineering, digital innovation and built-environment communities, bringing diverse perspectives to the evolving conversation around industrialised construction.

As the construction sector moves away from traditional, site-based methods to a more efficient, sustainable and digitally enabled future, industrialised construction is set to drive productivity gains, improve environmental impact and tackle the sector’s skills crisis.

_{Hershil Patel & Paul Ruddick}

The highlights

The opening sessions focused on ‘Industrialised Construction Strategy & Concepts’, where representatives from Innovate UK, the Department for Business & Trade, AtkinsRéalis and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), explored the foundations for the UK’s transition towards offsite manufacture.

Their contributions highlighted a co-ordinated national approach aimed at meeting demand through innovation and technology.

The ‘Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DfMA)’ session featured insight from Autodesk, Buro Happold, Skanska, Mott MacDonald, KOPE and Dataform Lab.

These businesses demonstrated how parametric design and manufacturing-level detail can drive efficiency, reduce waste and elevate build quality.

Discussions around ‘Platform Design, Kit-of-Parts and Pattern Books’ were led by experts from Landsec, Seismic Group, Akerlof and WSP.

Presentations illustrated how modular systems can deliver repeatable, scalable outcomes while remaining sensitive to the contextual needs of each site.

With an international focus, there were compelling case studies from Porsche Consulting, TU Delft and Stanford University.

These perspectives offered benchmarking opportunities and made a clear case for the UK’s potential to become a leader in industrialised construction globally.

Case study presentations from, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Homes England, Reds10, Barratt Redrow, British Offsite and NG Bailey showed in clear detail several landmark DfMA and offsite methodologies already in action.

^{Anne Daw}

_{Graeme Brady & Mel Jacobsen Cox}

_{Fergus Harradence, Ron Lang & Mike Pitts}

_{Helena Lidelöw}

_{Eva Magnisali}

_{Jerker Lessing}

Themes at the heart of the change

Several key themes emerged over the two days of discussion and debate.

While there is visible leadership and growing investment in large-scale manufacturing facilities, a consistent message emerged, principally the success of these efforts will depend on the development of robust, reliable project pipelines.

Much of this will be fed back into UK government departments and into the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) industrialised construction working group.

Speakers at the conference underscored the ability of offsite construction to significantly enhance efficiency, productivity and cost control. By accelerating build times by up to 50%, reducing rework and offering greater predictability and consistency in delivery, offsite approaches were positioned as key to overcoming long-standing issues of delays and budget overruns.

In the context of rising material costs, up around 30% since 2019 and tightening net zero deadlines, sustainability was a central focus.

Delegates stressed the environmental and economic advantages of offsite and industrialised methods, noting their ability to minimise waste and reduce embodied carbon.

The consensus was clear that prefabrication is no longer a desirable option, but a necessary step towards net zero construction.

The industry’s labour challenges also featured prominently. With an ageing workforce and limited new entrants, industrialised construction was presented as a practical solution.

Factory-led processes can support the development of stable, skilled and technology-oriented careers, while enhancing apprenticeship programmes through more structured and repeatable training environments.

What is the greatest barrier to the wider adoption of industrialised construction in the UK?

Lack of standardisation
Technology immaturity
Cultural resistance to change
Fragmented supply chains

A defining turning point

There is no single explanation for the momentum now gathering around industrialised construction.

Rather, it reflects a convergence of factors that are beginning to align in a meaningful way.

Government support, delivered through bodies such as the Construction Leadership Council, Innovate UK and the Department for Business and Trade, has helped to create a coherent national roadmap.

This policy clarity is matched by evidence of scale, with compelling cross-sector case studies showing that offsite construction is no longer a niche concept, it is already being implemented across a range of contexts.

The industry narrative has also shifted significantly.

Where once offsite was seen as an alternative, it is now increasingly viewed as essential. Digital and data-driven design are no longer optional – they are critical enablers.

Meanwhile, new opportunities for skilled careers in factory-led and design-to-manufacture environments are changing perceptions and attracting fresh talent.

Efforts to standardise, through pattern books, interoperable components and shared digital models, are laying the groundwork for a more integrated, future-ready construction sector.

The catalyst for structural change

The conference reflected the growing need for structural change and acted as a launchpad for the UK’s transition to manufacturing-led delivery models, moving away from the inefficiencies of traditional on-site construction. Over time, this could have implications beyond national borders, influencing global approaches to industrialised construction.

We are already two months on from the Industrialised Construction Conference, but momentum is being maintained, with the planning of future events – all aimed at progressing the narrative and highlighting the significant activity that is emerging in this space.

The next steps

Looking ahead to 2026, several key developments are expected to shape the future of industrialised construction. The 2026 Action Agenda is likely to drive the widespread adoption of standardised components and platform-based systems across a range of sectors, including residential, infrastructure, defence, healthcare and education.

Alongside this, there will be a continued focus on scaling up the supply chain, with increased investment in offsite manufacturing hubs and digital factories to meet national targets for housing and infrastructure delivery.

Policy integration will also play a critical role. Industrialised construction is anticipated to become more firmly embedded within planning, procurement and funding frameworks, particularly in ensuring compliance with Gateway 2 and net zero objectives.

Sustained collaboration across the sector will remain essential. Ongoing engagement between academia, industry, government and manufacturing stakeholders will support the sharing of knowledge and data, the advancement of pilot programmes and the strengthening of forums that help maintain progress.

Momentum is building. Procurement frameworks are evolving, long-term public investment, particularly in infrastructure, is rising and there is growing demand for platform-based solutions. This context provides the conditions for real transformation. A near-unanimous message emerged from the event: adopt DfMA, embrace digital tools, invest in workforce development and align procurement processes, or risk falling behind. The direction is clear – innovate and thrive.

Industrialised Construction Conference will return in London 21-22 April 2026. For more information, click HERE.

And to join the Industrialised Construction community on LinkedIn, click HERE.