Archive for category: News

At this year’s Specifier Summit 2025, hosted by BCM Agency, one theme resonated across every discussion: the appetite for innovation and MMC is strong, but confidence and understanding still lag behind.

When asked which area will benefit most from MMC over the next five years, almost half (44%) of respondents chose improved build quality and consistency, far outweighing benefits such as faster delivery (20%) or reduced embodied carbon (20%).

This marks a shift in tone from earlier debates that focused primarily on speed and sustainability. Specifiers appear to be re-framing MMC as a quality and assurance driver, not just an efficiency mechanism.

“We’re seeing MMC mature,” said one delegate. “It’s less about speed for speed’s sake, and more about predictability, precision, and long-term building performance.”

That perspective aligns with broader industry sentiment. As procurement frameworks evolve and digital design integration improves, specifiers are looking for certainty and repeatability; MMC’s unique advantage in an industry long challenged by inconsistency and cost overrun.

The second poll question tackled the issue of adoption: What is the single biggest barrier you face when specifying MMC or innovative materials?

A striking 65% cited limited client awareness and demand as the number one blocker. Cost and financing models followed at 24%, while only 6% pointed to supply chain readiness or skills shortages.

The supply chain is increasingly ready, but end clients and developers remain cautious, often lacking clear examples, data or reassurance on long-term ROI. For marketing and specification professionals, this presents a crucial task for 2026 and beyond: educating clients through evidence, case studies and clear value narratives.

As BCM’s managing director commented at the event, “Innovation doesn’t sell itself. The onus is on manufacturers, specifiers and marketers to tell a joined-up story – one that bridges technical innovation with client confidence.”When asked which type of material innovation is most critical for the future of construction, modular and prefabricated systems topped the list at 42%, followed by advanced insulation and building envelope solutions at 33%.

Interestingly, only 8% chose low-carbon cement alternatives and 0% selected smart or connected materials, suggesting that MMC’s near-term innovation is still grounded in physical assembly, not digital or chemical transformation.

This reinforces a trend we’ve observed across multiple client sectors: innovation with immediate practical application is winning mindshare. Specifiers want systems that solve problems today (from labour shortages to on-site waste) even as the sector builds toward deeper material decarbonisation.

Taken together, these results highlight a clear communications gap between the innovation happening inside the sector and the understanding held by clients and decision-makers outside it.

This is where marketing and specification intersect. The brands that will lead the next phase of MMC adoption are those who:

• Educate through clarity, not complexity
• Prove performance, not just promise innovation
• Collaborate across the value chain, uniting manufacturers, specifiers and developers in shared outcomes

At BCM Agency, our work with leading construction brands shows the growing value of insight-led marketing, using research like this to craft messages that resonate, reassure and ultimately convert specification into adoption.

The 2025 Specifier Summit results reveal a maturing marketplace: one focused on reliability, capability and client understanding. For innovators in MMC and materials, that means the next frontier isn’t the factory floor, it’s the narrative.

Those who control the story will control the specification.

Source: PBC Today

Successful regeneration stories run on ambition and partnership – two themes that should filter straight through from the masterplan to the project level, write Angela Mansell and Darren Perkins.

The use of modern methods of construction shows how embracing innovation and putting transparency at the heart of partnership can ensure those ambitions become reality.

This is evidenced by Oak Construction Projects and Mansell Building Solutions’ work delivering the £10m Bosden at Stopford Park in Stockport.

The project from developer Cityheart demonstrates how early engagement and collaborative working can transform outcomes – delivering certainty, speed, and quality in an industry often challenged by risk and complexity.

Bosden at Stopford Park is a six-storey block of 62 apartments and is part of Cityheart’s wider vision for the site, which also includes the delivery of residential blocks Torkington and Lyme, and the Cheers & Smith workspace building.

Stopford Park itself sits within Stockport’s £1bn Town Centre West masterplan, led by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation.

For Bosden at Stopford Park, Mansell was appointed by Oak as specialist MMC contractor, delivering off-site panelised light gauge steel frames and internal finishes. Manufacturing began in summer 2025 at Mansell’s Chadderton factory, with erection starting in July.

Bosden at Stopford Park demonstrates how modern methods of construction deliver tangible benefits when paired with strong partnerships.

In this example, prefabrication at Mansell’s Factory enabled a 15% faster timeline, fewer weather delays, and reduced onsite labour compared to traditional concrete builds.

The frame programme, initially scheduled for 80 days by Mansell, was completed in 70 – accelerating follow-on trades for Oak and providing programme certainty.

For Oak, this meant a predictable programme, fewer onsite issues, and peace of mind – a stark contrast to the uncertainty that often plagues conventional construction.

By involving Mansell’s in-house design manager, Courtney McLoughlin (a RIBA-qualified architect), at an early stage, the project benefited from proactive design input and open cost advice. This ensured buildability and compliance were locked in before a single panel left Mansell’s factory.

The transparent approach also extended to the tendering process, providing cost certainty for the client. Both teams worked in partnership to maintain exit costs in line with entry costs, with full transparency at every stage of delivery.

Both teams attended detailed frame, dry-lining, and fire-stopping design meetings, to ensure everyone was aligned and satisfied with the outcome. As mentioned earlier, this early collaboration paid off at Bosden at Stopford Park: the frame programme was bettered by 10-days, enabling other trades to start sooner.

Transparency throughout each stage not only delivers cost and build certainty but also fosters stronger relationships and trust between main contractors and specialist contractors.

The success at Bosden at Stopford Park has paved the way for a new chapter. Oak and Mansell are now collaborating on Corner Plot in Rochdale for Rochdale Council.

Opposite Rochdale Railway Station, the new part six-storey, part three storey building would contain 33 apartments. The curved building, named ‘Corner Plot’, would have four commercial units on the ground floor alongside a foyer for residents. This scheme combines new-build elements with the sensitive refurbishment of a listed building.

This will be a 52-week programme for Oak, delivering 33 high-quality apartments for the rental market.

To get the project rolling, Mansell’s light gauge steel frame will begin to be manufactured at their MMC Factory in the first quarter of the year to be ready to delivered and erected on site in Q2.

As this is the second project Mansell are delivering for Oak it will benefit from the same principles: proactive design collaboration, transparent cost planning, and a factory-led approach that reduces risk and will hopefully once again accelerate delivery over the elements Mansell are involved in.

This level of collaboration is not just good practice – it’s essential for MMC to succeed. When design, procurement, and delivery align under a shared vision, risk reduces and confidence grows.

As the North West accelerates its regeneration agenda, the Bosden at Stopford Park and Rochdale experiences offer a clear lesson: early engagement and collaborative partnerships are not optional – they are the foundation for smarter, more sustainable building.

For developers, contractors, and local authorities, the message is simple: involve your delivery partners early, build relationships based on trust, and embrace innovation with confidence. The result? Projects delivered faster, safer, and with certainty.

UK ventilation manufacturer Domus Ventilation has added new models to its intermittent axial fan range: the DBF100 100mm (4”) fan and the DKF150 150mm (6”) fan.  Both fan types are available in versions with timer control, and combined humidistat and timer control which identifies and reacts to a significant change in humidity.  The DBF100 is also available with a pull cord control.

The new Domus Ventilation axial fans have been designed for high performance and energy efficiency.  The DKF150 provides extract volume rates up to 48.8 l/s, with the smaller DBF100 operating up to 18.6 l/s, ensuring compliance with Building Regulations Part F Ventilation.  Even with these high extraction rates, the new fans operate with a low Specific Fan Power (SFP), down to 0.38W/l/s, saving energy and reducing operating costs.  They are also quiet in operation, down to 34dB(A).

As with all Domus Ventilation products, ease of installation has been a fundamental aspect of the product design.  The new axial fans are compact so readily fit into small spaces.  They come with easy-to-follow installation instructions and flexible mounting options, and compatible ducting kits are available to order.

Built with high-quality materials and durable components, the new fans are robust and provide long-lasting, reliable performance, whilst also being positioned at an extremely attractive price point, representing genuine value for money. They come with a two year warranty as standard.  

Designed to work with short duct runs which connect directly to an external outlet or grille, the Domus Ventilation axial fans are suitable for use in residential and light commercial bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, and utility rooms.  They have an aesthetically pleasing design that is both discreet and contemporary, making them suitable for all interior design styles.  

The addition of the DBF100 100mm (4”) and DKF150 150mm (6”) fans now complete the Domus Ventilation axial fan range, providing customers with a single source of axial fans.

Domus Ventilation has a well-deserved reputation for quality, supported by excellent technical support, from a market leading manufacturer and designer.  It is well placed to offer immediate, practical solutions to Building Regulations Parts F & L.  For further information, please contact vent.info@domusventilation.co.uk or visit domusventilation.co.uk 

Indoor air quality and ventilation manufacturing specialist Nuaire has had its MRXBOX Hybrid Cooling Systems installed into the new Berkeley Oval Village mixed use development in central London.  

103 MRXBOX Hybrid Cooling Systems with Nuaire ducting are being installed into one bedroom apartments at Oval Village in an area called the Zone, which are available on a shared ownership basis.  Compact in size, they are being installed within each apartment’s utility cupboards. 

The MRXBOX Hybrid Cooling System, which is a cooling extension for the MRXBOX Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) range, combines the heat-exchanger coolth recovery of an MVHR system with the cooling effect provided by a DX coil.  A wall-mounted room temperature sensor senses indoor temperatures and activates the cooling module automatically when necessary.  

The MRXBOX Hybrid Cooling System has been designed specifically to address the issue of overheating in problem areas of developments, where specific apartments or groups of apartments cannot be naturally ventilated and where site wide cooling technologies are not an option.  The MRXBOX Hybrid Cooling System significantly lowers the temperature of the fresh-air supply for occupant comfort, and enables compliance with Building Regulations Part O which addresses overheating mitigation requirements in new build properties.

Whilst passive ventilation solutions, such as opening windows, are prioritised under Approved Document O, there are instances when this is neither desirable, nor practical; this could be due to safety considerations, external noise and/or pollution. Located in the heart of London, Oval Village has these issues to contend with, plus higher temperatures than in other parts of the UK as a result of the Urban Heat Island effect.

The MRXBOX Hybrid Cooling System was selected by the consultant on the Oval Village development following an assessment of the acoustics, air quality and overheating.  For apartments that would not meet the noise criteria, natural ventilation was not an option and an alternative solution had to be found in the form of mechanical ventilation.  Cooling technologies for individual apartments impacted by overheating where looked at.  While split systems with fan-coils are a tried and tested option, they weren’t universally suited to all apartments in the development.  Such cooling systems come at a premium price and, furthermore, are relatively energy hungry so residents have to have the means to pay to run them.  With a number of the apartments at Oval Village allocated as affordable housing, the cost of cooling for the home owner was an important consideration.

The Nuaire MRXBOX Hybrid Cooling Systems were welcomed by the consultant as a means of achieving compliance with Part O without the energy cost of a full cooling system that occupants have to pay for.  As well as creating a simple solution to overheating in summer months, the units provide a high standard of indoor air quality year round via high-efficiency MVHR.

To find out more about Nuaire’s Hybrid Cooling System go to https://www.nuaire.co.uk/product-list-page/mrxbox-hybrid-cooling-system

Christchurch Family Hub provides essential, early support for local families. In 2003, Style installed a folding wall with pass-door to enable the Hub to divide its main activity and family room into two separate areas, as and when needed.

Twenty-two years on and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council again contacted Style, this time to replace the old wall with a modern system with enhanced operation and improved acoustics. 

Finished in a beech laminate, the new Dorma Huppe Variflex moveable wall is smooth and lightweight to manoeuvre, allowing the space to be easily opened up, or divided into two rooms, many times a day. If preferred, the dividing wall can be left in place for extended periods thanks to an integrated pass-door and, with a 49dB acoustic rating, activities can comfortably take place either side of the wall undisturbed.

“The original wall at the Christchurch Family Hub lasted over two decades, with regular servicing and maintenance from our after-care support team,” said Michael Porter, Style’s group managing director. 

“The fact that it continued to deliver smooth operation for such a long time is testimony to the quality of the original installation and also to the expertise of our technicians.”

Style’s after-care service team offers tailored maintenance plans to suit each customer’s unique site requirements, from one-off visits to fixed annual contracts. Fully accredited and experts in health and safety compliance, Style engineers are trained to work on all moveable walls, including automatic and semi-automatic systems. 

The Variflex system installed the Christchurch Family Hub brings improved acoustics and the latest operational features. One such benefit that is particularly relevant for this busy activity centre, is that the Variflex panels are manufactured separately to frame. 

This means that the individual panel linings can be easily changed if one should become scuffed or damaged, saving a considerable amount of money compared to replacing the entire wall.

www.style-partitions.co.uk