DTI plan to halve time taken to build homes

Homes and offices could be built in less than half the time under a £1.5m research initiative announced by the government today (Thursday).

Two three-year research programmes will look at how contractors can improve their information technology and building methods to raise construction standards.

The first  is an Off Site Production Programme: This delivers readymade units, like air conditioning, bathrooms and kitchens, direct to the site. The average house takes about 12 weeks to build, but 'off site' could cut that by up to 10 weeks. The programme aims to increase take up by promoting case studies, producing industry guidelines, and building a database for potential off site users.

The second is an Information and Communication Technology Programme:  This aims to increase business performance by using IT to get contractors, designers, and architects working closer together so that 20% of construction projects will be using integrated teams by 2004 rising to 50% by 2005.   

Construction and energy minister Brian Wilson said: "Achieving a more efficient construction industry demands the concerted effort of the architects, contractors, suppliers and manufacturers that work in the sector.

"Investing in this research is a major step in that direction. These programmes address the critical issues facing the sector, the need to find innovative ways to bring together the supply chain and the need to exploring more efficient and competitive ways of working.

The DTI's Partners in Innovation (PiI) programme will provide the funds for the initiative.