Modular buildings are built on an offsite factory, where the input of materials can be correctly estimated to reduce waste, and surplus materials can often be reused or recycled. We are finding more and more neighbourhoods and residential skyscrapers being built with modular buildings, helping with overcrowding and unaffordable housing in large cities. The building block style method of construction adds to its appeal in that it is very quick to assemble full high-rise buildings in comparison to traditional builds. This reduces disruption both to traffic and the community surrounding the modular building.

Additionally, the construction of a modular building is faster as it is not affected by weather disruptions, and the cost of labour and materials is generally cheaper.Before the lockdown, Homes England invested a £30 million investment into modular home buildings with the plan to allow 2000 homes by the end of 2020 and then rise to 5000 a year for the next five years. There is a hope that these additional homes will be more affordable and help solve the housing crisis and poor economy of the country.There are a few more sustainability benefits to modular buildings. Modular construction sustainability benefits include being a streamlined, efficient production rate that reduces waste to landfills.

By building in a factory setting, the quality of building elements can be assured, and the control of energy usage is much more manageable than on a traditional construction site. In contrast, though, many of the suggested sustainability benefits of modular buildings are yet to be tested, such as the strength of individual building parts which in theory should ensure a longer life to the whole building, but we will not know for sure until the building has become subject to the test of time, weather, and unplanned considerations such as high winds and flooding.

An extra benefit to the UK in both sustainability in modular construction and the growing job market is by building factories closer to development sites, there will be a reduction in carbon emissions and an increase in available jobs for workers.Ultimately, modular building construction looks to be the next big step in sustainable building in the UK and is likely to see the production of many of the upcoming neighbourhoods, residential spaces and homes, though potentially a smaller home space could be seen as more of the norm to live in England, as house prices continue to rise.