The Chancellor has announced new housing targets of 300,000 new homes a year, and 1.5m new homes within five years. So how can the industry best tackle the housing crisis, and what barriers need be overcome?

Dan Podesta, associate director in our Manchester studio, joined Place North West’s expert roundtable to discuss the role that modern methods of construction can play in turbocharging the housing sector.

Dan said: “We need to consider different ways of constructing buildings. The industry is at a bit of a standstill, and slightly reticent to adopt more modern methods of construction or offsite methods of construction.

“Speed, time, quality and value are all key parameters that need to be considered when it comes to adopting more modern methods of construction.

“But there is a change happening – a noticeable shift is taking place. As an engineer and as a design team I think we can work together more collaboratively to help to pull in those contractors and subcontractors earlier on in the process to be able to incorporate modern methods of construction in designs.”

The roundtable explored the opportunities that modern methods of construction provide, and why early engagement, funding and certainty of pipeline is vital. Participants included:

• Angela Mansell, managing director, Mansell Building Solutions
• Helen Spencer, executive director of Growth, Great Places
• Bill Metcalfe, operations manager, Caddick Construction
• Dan Podesta, associate director, Civic Engineers
• Alison Haigh, associate, Buttress
• Richard Kelly, project director, Muse
• David Chilton, managing director, Rowlinson Construction
• Gareth Blunden, principal design manager, Willmott Dixon
• Sean Keyes, CEO, Sutcliffe
• Jeff Endean, director, Cast
• Chaired by Dan Whelan, deputy editor, Place North West

You can read Place North West’s piece and watch the full video here.