The Modular and Portable Building Association’s Roadmap to Net Zero calls for full electrification of factories, on-site renewable energy sourcing, and ambitious zero-waste targets by 2030.


Digital integration: simulating and optimising entire settlements


Digital technologies unlock MMC’s full potential at true settlement scale. Building Information Modelling (BIM) at Level 2 or higher, coupled with digital twins and parametric design tools, enables comprehensive virtual prototyping of entire neighbourhoods—testing energy performance, daylighting, flood risk mitigation, transport integration, pedestrian flows, and social dynamics before any physical fabrication begins.


These models optimise passive design strategies (e.g., orientation for solar gain), renewable energy placement, and adaptable interiors (such as flexible partitions or demountable walls for evolving household needs over time). Blockchain and IoT-enhanced supply chains improve end- to-end visibility, traceability of materials, and real-time monitoring to reduce disruption risks in multi-supplier operations.


Emerging MMC innovations tailored to new towns


Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles are increasingly embedded in MMC workflows, streamlining component interfaces, reducing tolerances issues, and minimising onsite complexity and rework. Robotic welding for steel frames, automated panel assembly lines, CNC routing for timber elements, and even 3D-printed bespoke features (such as custom


facade details or acoustic panels) are maturing rapidly, offering substantial productivity gains and quality consistency. Offsite production of entire MEP risers, central plant rooms, facade cassettes, and stair cores accelerates fit-out phases dramatically.


The Taskforce advocates dedicated ‘innovation sandboxes’ within development corporations to trial advanced MMC variants—such as fully robotic volumetric production lines, hybrid timber-steel structural systems, or AI-optimised module configurations—while upholding rigorous safety, durability, and quality standards. These controlled environments could accelerate adoption of next-generation solutions that further compress timelines and costs.


Economic and social multipliers from MMC in new towns


Beyond technical advantages, MMC in new towns generates significant economic and social multipliers. Factory-based production creates higher-skilled, year-round jobs in manufacturing, digital engineering, and logistics—oſten in areas of higher unemployment—while reducing the boom-and-bust cycles typical of traditional site labour. Local or regional factories can prioritise hiring from nearby communities, supporting apprenticeships and upskilling programmes.


Predictable delivery lowers developer risk, improves affordability through cost certainty, and attracts institutional investment via green bonds or social impact funds. High-quality, energy- efficient homes reduce fuel poverty and long- term running costs for residents.


Addressing barriers: logistics, skills, and finance


Logistics for oversized modules to greenfield sites require pre-emptive route surveys, temporary infrastructure upgrades, and standardisation under MHCLG MMC definitions to ensure cross- supplier compatibility. Skills needs evolve toward precision manufacturing, digital tools, robotics, and quality assurance; new-town projects could anchor regional training academies, T-level pathways, and targeted apprenticeships. Economically, development corporations de- risk investment through committed, multi-year pipelines, while public procurement rules that reward social value (local jobs, carbon reduction, SME inclusion) and emerging green finance instruments attract pension funds and impact investors drawn to predictable costs, compressed timelines, and measurable sustainability outcomes.


In summary


Modern methods of construction are fundamental—not optional—to realising the ambitious new towns vision. They enable the delivery of faster, more sustainable, higher-quality, more affordable, and more inclusive communities at the scale and speed required. Through close collaborative effort across government, development corporations, manufacturers, designers, supply chain partners, and local stakeholders, the UK can surmount longstanding barriers, harness emerging innovations, and establish bold new benchmarks for 21st-century placemaking.


As policy responses unfold through 2026 and into the critical delivery phases ahead, MMC stands ready to play a defining, transformative role in shaping thriving, resilient, future-proof settlements for generations to come.


Winter 2026 M38 21


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