NHS Trusts wary of off-site build

Plans by the National Health Service to use modular construction to speed up the delivery of its PFI and capital construction programme could be hamstrung by NHS Trusts' reluctance to use off-site building methods as an alternative to traditional construction procedures.

A recent survey commissioned by Inventures, (which looks at Trusts, designers and contractors' attitudes to the use of modular construction) reveals a widespread suspicion and reluctance to use modular construction among NHS Trusts.

The survey found that NHS Trusts and designers generally have a low opinion based on an out of date perception of modular construction. This makes them reluctant to use it in place of traditional construction methods.

Many of the Trusts interviewed based their opinions on their previous experience of temporary modular units, installed some time ago.

Their concerns centred on the lifespan, maintenance costs, stability, security and appearance.

Although many Trusts did see the potential of modular construction as cheaper and faster, the survey concluded that only those with recent experience of modern modular construction methods were positive.

Darren Richards, operations director at off-site construction consultancy MTech, said all that was needed was to educate the Trusts on the benefits of modern modular construction methods.

"There is a level of ignorance out there, but there is also a great deal of interest from Trusts, particularly since NHS Estates is firmly committed to using modular construction methods to deliver ProCure 21," he said.

Peter Woolliscroft, head of partnering at the NHS Estates, said that modular construction methods would be used on the ProCure 21 national programme, wherever it was deemed appropriate.

He added: "It is my task to bring to clients the clear advantages these methods bring to the ProCure 21 programme. It will be a case of selective use of these techniques and when they are used it will be because the client can see the clear advantages of using these methods over traditional ones."

Contractors had a much more positive view of modular construction according to the report. They liked the way programme certainty was improved by transferring work away from site, reducing the dependency on weather, maximising off-site working and simplifying operations.

They also cited storage, handling and protection facilities as infinitely better than those on site, which impacts on the quality of the end result.

The survey concluded: "The construction and contracting sector is already convinced of the part modular construction can play in the current intensive NHS building programme.

"It is the clients themselves, who may have a tendency towards sticking with known, tried and tested methods, who have yet to be convinced; and according to the clients, it is they who make the decisions as to what construction methods are used."