Offsite sector eyes Olympic work boost

The offsite construction sector hopes London's successful Olympic bid will kick-start the industry.
Building Research Establish- ment director of innovative housing Oliver Novakovic told CJ: "The Olympics will speed up the process - this could be the push it needs. The challenge goes to the offsite construction industry to pull up its socks and deliver the capacity." Novakovic said offsite construction will help contractors get over logistical and labour problems. "Modern methods of construction don't need skilled workers - it can use multi-skilled workers. It won't be taking labour away like T5 has done."
Buildoffsite chairman Richard Ogden predicted the games will need a lot of temporary relocatable buildings.
However, Construction Products Association industry affairs director John Tebbit said integrated working was a more important issue than whether components are being built offsite. He said: "Logistics are key and designers need to get the manufacturer involved early on, so they know what they will be supplying two years down the line."