Building better, greener, and faster

In August 2020, Boris Johnson visited the site of the MTX Contract Hereford County Hospital project. The project was to build 3 state-of-the-art wards offering 72 extra beds to the hospital. The PM's visit was designed to highlight the success of modular construction methods in delivering his build better, build greener, build faster agenda. The new hospital wards were delivered in just 11 months by MTX and with quality and environmental credentials that outstrip traditional brick-and-mortar construction.

The Government's Project Speed is tagged as the most radical planning system reform since the end of the second world war. It responds to the need for new infrastructure, meeting the needs of a growing population. As MTX innovative methods are 50% quicker, this is a clear solution within the agenda of Project Speed.

Building Better

There has been historical prejudgement made of modular construction. People believe that it is the prefab hut of old. Modular units are engineered solutions constructed in a factory. Each unit is held to exceptional factory quality control standards, and as supplies are stored indoors, the components are all in prime condition when used in construction.

This offsite solution is also a better build solution for the community. Few vehicles and operatives are coming and going from the site. The amount of disruption faced is kept to a bare minimum and is often much safer than traditional sites.

Build Greener

The impact of decreased construction traffic is also felt by the local environment. The carbon emissions created during construction are far lower than other build methods.

More meaningful is the opportunity to recycle modular units. Brick-and-mortar sites are demolished to make way for new construction. The debris is transported to a landfill, where it adds to the global problem of waste. As easy as it is to construct modular units, you can deconstruct them. The component parts can then be recycled, which reduces waste from construction by up to 60%.

The modular unit also offers better energy performance. The air permeation in the unit is lower than in traditional methods. With heat retained in the space, there are lower energy requirements. It also has the result of keeping out more allergens and pollutants, making the air quality superior.

Building Faster

People find most impressive the speed with which modular constructions can be handed over to the client. The substructure and superstructure can be built simultaneously. Once groundworks are complete, the modular units are generally ready for delivery to the site. Much of the finish has been done upon delivery, and even the MEP services are pre-manufactured.

The total time saved due to these methods is often 50%. The greater certainty of timeline also means that modular build projects rarely need a contingency budget, as most cost overruns result from delays.

Delivering on all standards

MTX Contracts are proud of the high-quality hospital wards delivered in just eleven months. The visit from the Prime Minister emphasised the role modular construction can play in the future.