Housing Development framework: Traditional build & Offsite / Modern (MMC) Delivery

Our framework ensures quality through competitive appointment evaluating contractors on 70% quality criteria including project management capability, supply chain management, regional delivery experience, social value commitments, and net zero delivery capability. Appointed contractors demonstrated financial stability through rigorous assessment, professional accreditations for required disciplines, and track records in social housing construction. Framework management includes ongoing performance monitoring, management information reporting, supplier relationship management, and continuous improvement processes. Housing associations can develop bespoke key performance indicators and service level agreements for individual projects ensuring contractors maintain standards throughout delivery whilst we provide contract management support identifying and addressing performance issues.

Yes, Lot 2 specifically includes extra care homes within its scope alongside housing and apartments for projects over 30 units. Our framework contractors demonstrated experience delivering specialist accommodation requiring enhanced accessibility, communal facilities, care provision infrastructure, and complex mechanical and electrical installations. Extra care developments benefit from contractors understanding social housing requirements, experience with Homes England funding and compliance, knowledge of accessibility standards including wheelchair user dwellings, and capability to deliver high-quality communal spaces. Our framework enables housing associations to procure specialist accommodation through compliant routes whilst accessing contractors with proven track records in complex care-enabled housing delivery.

Housing associations access our framework through direct award by obtaining proposals from regionally ranked contractors for straightforward requirements, or mini-competition between multiple appointed contractors for complex projects requiring detailed evaluation. We provide template call-off documentation, specification assistance, and procurement support throughout the process. Our framework runs from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2028 with two-year optional extension (contract notice 2024/S 000-006760). All housing associations can become PfH members with immediate framework access. Our procurement team supports members from initial requirement definition through contractor selection, PCSA phase, and construction contract award ensuring optimal outcomes and procurement compliance.

Our framework is structured in two lots by project size: Lot 1 covers low-rise housing and apartments up to 11 metres for projects with individual sites up to 30 units, subdivided into 37 geographic regions across England and Wales. Lot 2 covers residential projects including housing, apartments including medium and high-rise above 11 metres, and extra care homes for projects with sites over 30 units, organised into eight broader regional areas. This structure ensures appropriate contractor scale and regional expertise match project requirements, with smaller regional contractors competing for Lot 1 providing local knowledge and relationships, whilst larger contractors on Lot 2 offer resources and expertise for complex multi-unit developments.

The social housing development process begins with site identification and acquisition, followed by feasibility assessment including planning constraints and viability analysis. Housing associations then secure planning permission including Section 106 negotiations, apply for grant funding through Homes England if required, and procure construction services through compliant frameworks. Following contractor appointment through direct award or mini-competition, the PCSA phase involves design development and cost certainty before construction contract award. Construction proceeds with regular monitoring and quality assurance, followed by practical completion, snagging resolution, and handover. Final stages include tenant allocation, move-in support, and defects liability period management ensuring quality homes.

A Pre-Contract Service Agreement (PCSA) is a two-stage procurement approach where contractors are appointed initially to provide design development, cost planning, and programme preparation before main construction contract award. PCSA enables early contractor involvement providing buildability advice, value engineering opportunities, supply chain engagement, and risk identification before committing to construction. All our framework contractors demonstrated PCSA capability, enabling housing associations to benefit from contractor expertise during design development whilst maintaining flexibility to adjust specifications, manage budgets effectively, and achieve competitive pricing through transparent cost build-up before final contract commitment for construction works.

Our framework supports net zero carbon housing through appointed contractors demonstrating capability to deliver Future Homes Standard compliance, expertise in high-performance building fabric, experience with renewable energy integration, and understanding of whole-life carbon assessment. Modern methods of construction available through our framework offer enhanced thermal performance through precision manufacturing, reduced embodied carbon through efficient material use, and factory conditions enabling quality assurance of airtightness and insulation. Contractors provide advice on achieving net zero targets, access to supply chains delivering low carbon materials, and project management expertise ensuring sustainability commitments translate into delivered performance meeting housing association environmental objectives and regulatory requirements.

Building Better is an alliance of housing associations and local authorities, backed by the National Housing Federation, working collaboratively to procure high-quality sustainable homes through modern methods of construction. The partnership aggregates demand from members, collaborates with offsite manufacturers, shares learning and innovation, and improves quality, safety, energy efficiency, and resident satisfaction. Framework members benefit from Building Better’s collective procurement power, technical expertise, standardisation opportunities whilst retaining customisation flexibility, visible pipeline enabling long-term manufacturing partnerships, and sector-specific knowledge addressing construction skills crisis. This collaborative approach reduces costs and risks whilst improving housing delivery outcomes and supporting social housing providers to tackle the housing crisis effectively.

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 introduced strengthened consumer standards requiring housing associations to maintain accurate records of property conditions through physical stock checks, provide effective timely repairs services, and ensure homes meet the Decent Homes Standard. For new developments, this means constructing homes to high quality standards preventing future defects, incorporating robust building fabric reducing maintenance requirements, designing for accessibility meeting diverse tenant needs, and ensuring energy efficiency reducing tenant fuel costs. Our framework contractors are evaluated on quality delivery capability, defect management approaches, and commitment to building homes meeting enhanced consumer standards whilst our contract management processes support ongoing quality assurance throughout construction.

New social housing must comply with Building Regulations covering structural safety, fire safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and ventilation standards. Social housing developments must meet specific requirements including Part M accessibility standards (typically M4(2) accessible and adaptable dwellings minimum), enhanced fire safety standards particularly for buildings over 11 metres, Future Homes Standard transitioning from 2025 requiring significant carbon reductions, Nationally Described Space Standards ensuring adequate room sizes, and Secure by Design principles for crime prevention. Additionally, homes must achieve minimum EPC ratings, and housing associations must comply with Regulator of Social Housing consumer standards ensuring quality homes. Our appointed contractors demonstrate capability delivering all regulatory requirements.

Social housing is funded through Homes England grant programmes providing capital funding for affordable housing development, housing association reserves and borrowing against existing assets, Section 106 contributions from private developers, Right to Buy receipts retained by local authorities, and local authority borrowing through the Housing Revenue Account. Housing associations apply for grant funding through Homes England’s Affordable Homes Programme bidding rounds, demonstrating project viability, deliverability, and value for money. Our framework supports grant-funded developments by providing compliant procurement routes, competitive pricing through pre-negotiated rates, and contractor capability to deliver within funding constraints and programme timescales.

New build developments over certain sizes typically must include affordable housing through Section 106 planning obligations, where local planning authorities negotiate affordable housing contributions as conditions of planning permission. Requirements vary by location but commonly require 25-40% affordable housing on developments exceeding 10-15 units, though exact thresholds and percentages depend on local planning policies. Developers can negotiate reduced affordable housing through viability assessments demonstrating schemes cannot deliver required percentages whilst remaining financially viable. Our framework supports housing associations acquiring Section 106 affordable housing from private developers and directly developing 100% affordable schemes using grant funding.

Social housing includes social rent properties let at below-market rents based on property values and average local earnings, affordable rent homes charged at up to 80% of local market rent, intermediate rent accommodation between social and market rates, shared ownership enabling part-purchase and part-rent arrangements, and specialist accommodation including extra care housing and supported living schemes. Housing associations also develop affordable housing for key workers, older people, and people with disabilities. Our framework enables construction of all social housing types, with appointed contractors experienced in delivering varied tenure mixes, accessibility standards, and specialist accommodation requirements meeting different housing needs.

Council housing specifically refers to homes owned and managed by local authority councils, whilst social housing is the broader term encompassing all affordable rented accommodation provided by councils, housing associations, and other registered social landlords. Social housing includes council housing, housing association properties, and homes provided by ALMOs (Arms Length Management Organisations). All social housing is let at below-market rents to people in housing need, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, and allocated based on local housing need criteria. Our framework serves both local authorities developing council housing and housing associations developing social housing across England and Wales.

Modern methods of construction (MMC) involve offsite manufacturing of housing components or complete modules in factory conditions, then transported to site for assembly. Benefits include faster construction timescales reducing site duration by up to 50%, improved quality through controlled factory conditions, enhanced thermal performance supporting net zero carbon targets, reduced site waste and environmental impact, decreased weather dependency, lower defect rates, and predictable delivery programmes. Our framework provides access to contractors experienced in various MMC approaches including volumetric modular, panelised systems, and hybrid solutions, enabling housing associations to benefit from innovation whilst maintaining procurement compliance.

Traditional construction uses conventional building methods including brick and block masonry, timber frame with brick cladding, and on-site construction of structural elements. Traditional construction is most suitable for complex sites with difficult access limiting crane operations, projects where local planning requires specific traditional materials or aesthetics, developments incorporating existing buildings requiring matching construction, smaller infill sites where offsite manufacturing economies don’t apply, and when local labour availability makes on-site construction cost-effective. Traditional methods offer design flexibility and familiarity for contractors and residents whilst our framework ensures competitive pricing through pre-negotiated rates.

Use our Integrated Traditional and MMC Framework when you need flexibility to choose between traditional and modern construction methods based on site requirements, want options to use hybrid approaches combining both methods, require contractors experienced in diverse construction techniques, or are uncertain which method best suits your development. Use our specialist Modern Methods of Construction Framework when committed to volumetric or modular offsite solutions with specific MMC requirements. Use our Pre-Manufactured Housing Panels DPS when specifically requiring panelised construction systems like structural insulated panels assembled on-site. Our Integrated Framework offers maximum flexibility whilst maintaining Building Better partnership benefits.

The framework supports delivery of comprehensive new build housing including low-rise houses up to 30 units per site, medium and high-rise apartments over 11 metres, extra care homes, infill developments, and larger residential projects exceeding 30 units. Construction can utilise traditional building methods, modern methods of construction including offsite manufacturing, or combinations of both approaches depending on site requirements and project specifications. The framework covers England and Wales with regional contractors appointed across 37 geographic regions for Lot 1 and broader regional coverage for Lot 2, ensuring appropriate local expertise for all housing development requirements.

Housing development refers to the complete process of planning, designing, procuring, and constructing new residential properties including houses, apartments, and extra care homes for social housing providers. PfH’s Housing Development framework supports housing development by providing compliant access to experienced principal contractors capable of delivering projects using traditional construction methods, modern methods of construction, or hybrid approaches. The framework enables housing associations and local authorities to procure construction services efficiently whilst maintaining flexibility to choose the most appropriate construction method for each development based on site requirements, timescales, and strategic objectives.