Modern methods of construction
Adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC) is on the rise as resistance to change across the industry recedes
Our key findings
increase in average MMC content on a project as reported by contractors.
decrease in client and design team resistance cited as a barrier to MMC adoption.
increase in economic factors of cost, supply chain capacity and continuity of workload cited as barriers to MMC adoption.
“Skilled labour shortages and capacity of colleges to support apprenticeship programmes [are] limited due to a lack of trainers.”
National contractor
Average work content adopting MMC on projects
What it means for projects
The basic economics of MMC remain one of the barriers to adoption, but consideration should always be on where value outcomes may be worth paying a price premium, or where a traditional approach may result in a risk premium.
Continuity of workload and capacity go hand in hand and may be navigated by better pipeline transparency and different approaches to longer-term contracting.
What it means for client outcomes
MMC can lead to better quality, reductions in embodied carbon and improved social value outcomes.
The counter can also be true. Where local community benefit is sought in construction jobs, moving these away from the site may be counterproductive. But not all MMC is offsite and different types of jobs may be created through the construction that may be more aligned with client objectives.
MMC and DfMA undoubtedly require client commitment to get the right level of balanced decision making. We have seen projects embracing the challenges achieve quicker and better outcomes including NZC in operation.
RLB © 2025 Rider Levett Bucknall