The Minister for Housing and Communities, Deputy David Warr, has published a report on the role Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can play in Jersey to speed up the delivery of new homes for Islanders.
As part of the Chief Minister’s 100 Day Plan, Deputy Kristina Moore asked the Minister for Housing and Communities to bring forward plans for creating prefabricated homes to help address the housing crisis.
MMC is a generic term used to describe a building process which uses prefabrication and factory assembly as a fast way of delivering new buildings. It maximises the efficient use of materials, the construction workforce and resources.
The “Modern Methods of Construction: Housing Delivery Innovation“ report includes a number of Ministerial commitments to support innovation in the construction sector:
• The creation of a construction sector innovation hub, involving representation from the local development industry, to share ideas and challenges, identify skills and labour gaps, and discuss regulatory challenges and how they may be overcome
• Strengthened presence of States’-owned entities to lead and support the Island’s local construction sector in testing new-to-Jersey methods of construction
• Improve logistics and ports capacity, working with the Ports of Jersey to ensure that harbour regeneration works includes sufficient capacity for the import of MMC building supplies
• Advice and support for developers, to help address logistical challenges for modular movements and wider MMC initiatives
• An advisory service for product and design compatibility with local planning and building regulations
Deputy Warr said: “There is a clear need in Jersey to increase housing supply, by making better use of existing homes, but also by generating momentum and innovating to help us build faster. Off-site production methods, for example, mean that most of the building process can avoid delays caused by bad weather or worker shortages.
“I want government to work closely with the sector on MMC. The industry is already embracing new technology and there is an opportunity for Jersey to be right at the forefront of construction innovation, to help us provide the housing we desperately need. This is about efficiency, working collaboratively, and delivering well-designed and good-quality homes at a greater pace"
Government of Jersey News Release