Comparison of modular and traditional UK housing construction: a bibliometric analysis

Nazir, F. and Edwards, D.J. and Shelbourn, M. and Martek, I. and Thwala, W.D. and El-Gohary, H. (2020) Comparison of modular and traditional UK housing construction: a bibliometric analysis. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology. ISSN 1726-0531

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Abstract

Purpose – Housing completions in the UK have fallen to 125,000 annually, while government targets have risen to 300,000. This dramatic shortfall raises concerns as to whether current traditional construction approaches remain appropriate. This study, aims to compare the traditional approach with modular construction, with a view to assessing whether a shift in construction systems offers the potential to alleviate UKs domestic housing crisis.

Methodological Approach - A comprehensive interpretivist review of the available relevant literature is undertaken on construction methods within the UK; advantages and disadvantages. A bibliometric analysis is conducted to extract trends and findings relevant to the comparison at hand. The database is Web of Science; the analysis software is VOS Viewer.

Findings: The research illustrates that UK housing market is in a state of crisis. A toxic combination of a rising UK population combined falling rates of housing delivery has resulted in an ever-widening housing supply gap. The construction industry’s capacity to meet this observed dearth in supply is further exacerbated by a number of chronic factors such as: falling participation in the construction sector workforce; lowering skills levels; reducing profitability; time to delivery pressures; and cost blow-outs.

Originality – While much information on the various construction methods are available, including comparative material, this work is the first to assemble the various comparative parameters regarding traditional and modular UK residential construction in one place. Thus, this study provides a definitive assessment of the relative advantages and disadvantages of these forms of construction.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-05-2020-0193
Dates:	Date Event 4 June 2020 Accepted 8 July 2020 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Modular Construction, Traditional Construction, Modular Housing, Residential Housing, Construction Costs, UK housing
Subjects:	CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-01 - architecture CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-02 - building CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-04 - planning (urban, rural and regional)
Divisions:	Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment > School of Engineering and the Built Environment
Depositing User:	Euan Scott
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2020 13:58
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2022 13:31
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9342

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