Meeting the UK’s housing demand is one of the greatest challenges facing the construction industry today. With government targets to deliver 300,000 new homes annually, traditional construction methods alone cannot deliver at the speed or scale required. This is where Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), including timber frame systems, play a critical role in transforming how homes are designed, built, and delivered.

What is MMC?

Modern Methods of Construction refers to innovative building techniques that improve efficiency, sustainability, and quality in housebuilding. These include offsite construction, modular systems, panelised timber frame solutions, and other approaches designed to accelerate delivery while meeting the highest performance standards.

Why is MMC essential to scale housing delivery?

1. Speed of build

Offsite timber frame systems, such as those manufactured by Donaldson Timber Systems, allow homes to be assembled on site much faster than traditional masonry methods. Components are precision-engineered in factory conditions and delivered just in time for installation. This reduces construction programmes significantly, enabling house builders and housing providers to meet urgent demand.

2. Consistent quality

Offsite production ensures that every panel and system is manufactured under controlled conditions, minimising defects and delays. For housebuilders, local authorities, and affordable housing providers, this consistency translates into greater reliability and long-term performance of homes.

3. Sustainability and net zero

The government’s Future Homes Standard and net zero targets require lower carbon solutions in construction. MMC, and particularly timber frame, provides a natural, low-carbon building method with excellent energy performance. By adopting MMC, house builders and housing providers can not only meet regulatory requirements but also deliver greener, more sustainable homes for communities.

4. Cost efficiency at scale

By reducing time on site, minimising waste, and improving predictability, MMC helps developers and housing associations manage costs more effectively. Combined with growing housing demand, the efficiencies of MMC make it a commercially viable and scalable solution.

5. Supporting affordable housing delivery

Local councils and housing associations face the dual challenge of delivering more homes at lower cost while maintaining high quality and sustainability standards. MMC offers a practical solution, enabling providers to accelerate delivery of affordable, energy-efficient homes that meet community needs.

Leading the way in MMC and timber frame

With over 50 years of expertise and more than 150,000 homes built, Donaldson Timber Systems  is at the forefront of MMC in the UK. Our timber frame systems combine speed, sustainability, and reliability, helping our customers reduce costs, cut carbon, and deliver homes at scale. Backed by accreditations such as BOPAS+ and BBA, we offers trusted, future-ready building solutions.

The demand for new homes will only continue to grow, and traditional construction alone cannot keep pace. By embracing Modern Methods of Construction, and in particular timber frame systems, the UK housing sector can deliver more homes, faster, while achieving higher quality, sustainability, and affordability. We are committed to supporting housebuilders, contractors, and housing providers in making this transition — ensuring housing delivery meets the needs of today and the future.