The adoption of offsite construction in the EU is gradually increasing, particularly in Northern and Western countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, France, Austria and the Nordics. However, conventional onsite construction still dominates in the EU. Recently, in the context of a housing crisis, EU governments, including Germany, announced incentives for offsite construction to accelerate the provision of affordable housing.

This study aims to inform future initiatives of the European Commission that could support affordable housing through offsite construction. An extensive EU-wide consultation was conducted based on a High-Level Construction Forum research note.1 Experiences from 231 construction practitioners (architects, engineers, contractors and offsite construction manufacturers) were collected and analysed through a survey followed by targeted focus group discussions. Enriched through additional desk research, the findings provide information and data on critical challenges, good practices and actionable recommendations.

The report finds that offsite construction has higher adoption rates in commercial and infrastructure projects, while it remains limited in housing. When it comes to housing, higher demand is observed for social and student housing, that belong basically to lower cost residential construction. Across the EU, the demand is perceived as moderate to low, except for Germany, France and the Netherlands, where stakeholders perceive moderate to high demand.

Generally, the demand outlook is optimistic, with stakeholders anticipating significant growth over the next five years. This growth expectation is driven by the benefits offsite offers, including reduced construction times and cost efficiency. Additionally, the increasing focus on sustainability and the reduction of construction waste are key factors driving adoption. Technological innovation plays a crucial role in this growth, with the integration of digital tools, automation technologies, and new materials enhancing production efficiency, quality control, and traceability.

Read more : https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/33979417-5882-11f0-a9d0-01aa75ed71a1/language-en