Member

Amendment 135H, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, proposes that the Secretary of State may appoint an organisation to give type approval to designs for the modular construction of buildings. I thank the noble Lord for raising this issue. Modular construction offers an important opportunity to improve productivity in the construction sector. I have spoken about it before in the Chamber and I am a great supporter of modular construction. It will help to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes, while creating new jobs in the sector. However, a design specification for modular construction is insufficient for both planning control and building control purposes. Both control systems take into account the local environment and conditions of the building. Design for planning purposes is about much more than just physical characteristics; it is also about how a building relates to its surroundings and its interactions with the wider landscaping, layout and access.