Modular Construction(MMC)
Building offsite in a factory - volumetric modules or panels - then assembling on site, part of the broader shift to modern methods of construction.
Modular construction manufactures large parts of a building in a controlled factory - either three-dimensional volumetric modules or flat panels - which are then transported and assembled on site. It sits within modern methods of construction (MMC), a broader move away from fully traditional on-site building. It changes who supplies what and when, because a lot of value shifts from the site to the factory and earlier in the programme.
Modular projects compress the on-site window and pull procurement forward, so suppliers who wait for a traditional site sequence can miss them entirely. Spotting an MMC scheme early matters more than usual.
PlanningLeads flags scheme type and works from the planning and commencement records; offsite and modular schemes appear as residential and other building leads you can track from an early stage, at area level.
See it in live data
Common questions
Modular (offsite volumetric or panelised building) is one form of modern methods of construction (MMC); MMC is the wider umbrella that also covers other offsite and factory-based techniques.
Because much of the build happens in a factory ahead of site assembly, procurement is pulled earlier and the on-site window is shorter.
It is common on housing, student accommodation, healthcare and other repeatable building types where factory production pays off.
Related terms
This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Planning rules carry conditions and exceptions - always verify a specific case against the official source or a planning professional before acting.