The proposed research project is based at the Centre for Construction Futures (CFRC) in the School of Architecture and Built at the University of Wolverhampton. You will work across two research groups within the Centre: Digital Construction and Building & Land.
Synopsis:
Housing plays a critical role in society and yet the supply remains inadequate. Studies have identified a range of factors, including land availability and the prevalence of brownfield sites, as limiting the housing supply in the UK. The government has attributed its inability to meet its target of 300,000 homes per year to the traditional approach used in housing projects, and consequently suggested the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) such as off-site construction (OSC).
Off-site construction has been identified as a potential method for improving outcomes, as it contributes to the accelerated completion of housing projects, while also promoting efficiency and sustainability. While there is evidence of OSC being employed in UK construction projects, there has been no research undertaken to explore how this approach could be used to deliver housing on brownfield sites. In England alone, there is the potential to develop 1.2 million houses on the 23,000 brownfield sites that cover 27,000 hectares of land. Therefore, this study seeks to understand what off-site construction means for housing delivery on brownfield sites in the UK while also developing a framework for successful OSC implementation. To achieve this, a multiplicity of research approaches will be employed, including systematic review, interviews, questionnaire surveys and case studies, with key stakeholders such as land remediation specialists, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), the National Brownfield Research Institute, off-site construction contractors and manufacturers, housing developers, the council, professional bodies, construction professionals and the planning department.
The outcome of this research will be the development of a step-by-step framework that will support stakeholders in the successful implementation of OSC on brownfield sites, the identification of risk factors and associated mitigation strategies, and the development of guidelines for stakeholder engagement and collaboration, with the potential to revolutionise the UK housing supply.
For further information regarding the project or an informal discussion please contact Director of Studies, Dr Emmanuel Daniel [Email Address Removed]
Applications
To apply for the PhD Research Studentship applicants must hold a first class/distinction at Master and/or Bachelor level of study.
Applications to include one identified project, a full CV (including 2 referee names and contact details), transcripts and a letter of application outlining the motivation for applying (maximum of 2 pages). Applicants from outside UK must provide evidence of English Language requirement as stated in https://www.wlv.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/
Application submission deadline is 10:00am BST 19 June 2023 to [Email Address Removed]
A shortlist of candidates will be prepared from the pool of applicants, in line with Faculty of Science and Engineering Post Graduate Research (PGR) studentship selection criteria, who will be invited to attend an interview with a panel of academic staff, week commencing 26 June 2023.
Following this process all successful candidates will be notified to enrol in July 2023 on a PhD degree programme. The studentship award will include tuition fees at home level for the first three years of full-time study including any write-up period fees and research support fees.
For further information on fees https://www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/funding-costs-fees-and-support/fees-and-costs/research-fees/
Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to individual Director of Studies mentioned above.
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