Factors influencing the selection of a procurement route for UK off-site housebuilding

While there is a plethora of research into the perceived benefits of off-site construction systems and the barriers towards their adoption, there has been very little discussion of the procurement route selection factors for off-site residential projects in the UK Midlands region. This study sought to identify the factors that influence the selection of a procurement method for off-site housebuilding projects in the Midlands. The aim of the paper was to identify the critical factors influencing the procurement selection for off-site housebuilding developments through a survey of 157 construction professionals and housing developers using the relative importance index as a basis for analysis. A comparison between the most highly ranked factors for off-site manufacturing and those presented in the literature indicates that practitioners’ perceptions are largely aligned with those of traditional construction processes. The higher constructability of design and environmental sustainability have been shown to have a greater influence on the selection of the most appropriate procurement route for off-site housebuilding as compared to those applicable to traditional construction. The research findings can also help practitioners to develop a wider and deeper perspective of the criteria for selecting the appropriate procurement method for off-site residential projects at a regional level.