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A UK COALITION OF THREE RESEARCH GROUPS CALLED THE TRANSFORMING CONSTRUCTION ALLIANCE (TCA) HAS RECEIVED £72 MILLION FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT TO ALIGN CONSTRUCTION WITH LEADING EDGE MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES.
TCA (which comprises the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), and Cambridge University’s Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB)) was awarded the funding following a nationwide competition run by public body Innovate UK.
The money will be used to stimulate uptake of digital design, advanced manufacturing, robotics, drones and augmented and virtual reality.
Working through an initiative called the Core Innovation Hub, the TCA’s objective is to drive technology to enable the UK construction sector to design and build faster, cheaper and more sustainably.
According to a media statement, an important objective of the initiative will be the adoption of precision manufacturing resulting in the delivery of better performing schools, hospitals and homes. Smart buildings that can manage and maintain themselves through sensor enabled technology will be another.
Neil Rawlinson, the MTC’s strategic development director reportedly commented:
“There is huge potential for transformation of large parts of the construction sector to a manufacturing industry. The widespread appetite for change throughout the industry and the impact that this change will have on so many aspects of life in the UK make us enormously excited to be delivering this pivotal role.”
Announcing the award at BRE Watford on 30 November 2018, Business & Industry Minister Richard Harrington said:
“We have the opportunity to revolutionise construction in the UK and the Core Innovation Hub will help us build smarter, greener and more efficient buildings much faster and cheaper than we do now.
“From the introduction of virtual reality to offsite manufacturing, our modern Industrial Strategy is helping the UK construction sector to develop new techniques and skills – modernising the sector and delivering the homes and buildings our nation needs.”■
