BEYOND BRICKS AND MORTAR: A REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE METHODS AND THEIR BENEFITS IN OFF-SITE TIMBER CONSTRUCTION FOR SOCIAL HOUSING IN THE UK

Building information modelling (BIM), life-cycle assessment (LCA) And off-site<br/>timber construction are increasingly applied to the built environment. However, the<br/>social housing sector in the UK is evidentially behind on applying these to their<br/>homes. Despite the trend of traditional construction for the sector, such as, block and<br/>brick, a paradigm shift is needed to fully transition to modern methods of construction<br/>(MMC). Transitioning to MMC using timber construction and integrating the use of<br/>BIM and LCA could offer the opportunity for the social housing sector to modernise<br/>and become more sustainable. To this end, the aim of this research is to enhance the<br/>sustainability of social housing in the UK by identifying the benefits of methods that<br/>can replace traditional construction. To achieve this, a Systematic Literature Review<br/>of prior work from 2014 to 2024 will be adopted for data collection and analysis.<br/>This paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing a foundational<br/>foothold for researchers and industry professionals to make informed strategic<br/>decisions on sustainable construction for social housing.