JOIN MY SESSION - REGISTER YOUR FREE TICKETS TODAY

Your name: Ben Townend

What Pronouns you use: He/Him

A little about yourself and your background

I am a Design and Technical Lead delivering and managing the design, quality, and compliance for sustainable, affordable housing, working closely with contractors, design consultants and project delivery teams.

I have a keen interest in off-site, modular, and other modern methods of construction, which is founded in my previous studies of manufacturing/ process engineering.

My experience in material science combined with my understanding of manufacturing processes provide me with a good grounding to assess the viability and benefit of applying novel construction materials and innovative construction methods for the delivery of sustainable new homes.

I’m excited to be a part of an industry which is making efforts to address climate impact and see modern construction methods as a vast opportunity to improve how people live in better homes and communities.

What skills/knowledge you bring to the panel

I really enjoy sharing my knowledge and learning with others and value others sharing their experience and skills. In my humble opinion there is so much excellent work to deliver quality homes at scale already going on in the industry. Its vitally important that organisations are pooling data and experiences of delivering low carbon homes through modern methods of construction to reduce misconceptions, away perceived risks and promote novel construction technologies within the social housing sector. I have a firm understanding of the impact of material selection and methods of construction on the successful outcomes of a project, which allows me to make informed decisions resulting in well balanced and functional design responses.

What in your view is the main blocker in delivering MMC homes

Myth busting and education throughout industry professionals and home users.

As a housing provider we must ensure that low carbon, comfortable homes are able to meet the demands of how our customers choose to live. This can be achieved through MMC, providing future proofed homes which account for climate change, whilst having low energy demand and running costs. Success relies on providing housing providers and their supply chains with the right level of information and support to ensure the translation from factory components to finished homes which are robust and capable of providing and maintaining comfort levels, and sustainable performance.

Currently misinformation/ poor understanding result in a slow and laboured uptake of innovative and novel construction methods and systems. We need to be explicit about what has and hasn’t worked previously when aiming to deliver MMC homes to ensure we learn and improve – more evidence and detailed definition of ‘proven ways to deliver’ as opposed to rhetoric and overarching principles/ guidance.

What one suggestion you have for increasing the delivery of MMC homes

It is important we discuss our project goals and experiences at regular touch points. Securing industry backed recommendations and engaging with suppliers at the outset to select the optimal system to best meet the project goals offers increased chance that the result is low impact, low cost, comfortable homes at volume. Highlighting the material benefits and increased project certainty which is delivered through PMV and sharing findings and experiences with wider development organisations is a great way to improve industry knowledge but been open and transparent about difficulties and failings is also critical to ensure the whole industry is learning and improving collectively.

Connect with me on LinkedIn!

• linkedin

FULL CONFERENCE AGENDA                     NETWORKING EVENTS                      FULL SPEAKER LINE-UP