From craft production to mass customisation. Innovation requirements for the UK housebuilding industry

Improving the efficiency of housebuilding is essential if the challenge of meeting future UK housing needs is to be met. The degree to which speculative housebuilders are prepared to adopt construction product and process innovations is central to this task. Historically, housebuilders have been notoriously slow to innovate. However, current housing market and regulatory trends suggest firms will have to reassess their strategies to ensure future success. The paper explores the extent to which new methods for improving the housing 'product' and reducing construction costs may be taken up by housebuilders. We then consider what call be none to overcome the barriers which have so far inhibited a more innovative housebuilding industry.