However, the report highlights a number of obstacles that currently stand in the way and suggests a major overhaul is required.

The report suggests that OSM can increase productivity, reduce labour demands, improve the quality and efficiency of buildings and reduce the environmental impacts of building much-needed housing. However, take-up has been slow due to the industry working within outdated and unsustainable business models that do not work for OSM, where more collaboration is required. In fact, the report suggests that a lack of trust between clients, designers and contractors is part of the problem.

Lord Patel, the committee Chair has stated that evidence suggests that productivity could be improved by 70% if OSM was used and that more partnerships need to the built to improve uptake of the technology. The government has a role in this, he says, and that the implementation of the Construction Sector Deal should be used to increase OSM as the favoured building method.

The committee found that if the government is to reach its target of 300,000 homes a year by 2020, OSM will be the only way and that traditional building methods do not have the required capacity.

The committee view is shared by industry experts including Geoff Fawkes from the OSM specialist McAvoy Group. He says that that collaboration with the client at an early stage is essential to optimise the feasibility of the project. This report rightly picks up on this fact and the need for better information on the number of OSM projects as this will improve confidence for future investment.