Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

Local needs analysis

2026-01-17T17:55:41Z

JHIllier:

[[File:DiverseFocusGroup.jpg|link=File:DiverseFocusGroup.jpg]]

= Introduction =

A needs analysis is a systematic information gathering process carried out to determine whether or not something (such as a project) is justified. It may also be referred to as a needs assessment, situational analysis or organisational diagnosis.

= Determining what a community needs =

A local needs analysis (also referred to as a community needs assessment) evaluates a community to identify the requirements of the area and determine an appropriate strategy for a project that may translate into social value to help build stronger and more resilient neighbourhoods. One such project might be the addition of designated walking paths in an area where pedestrians or runners may feel unsafe sharing the roads with cyclists and motor vehicles.

Organisations should conduct or commission a local needs analysis before finalising a project’s strategic brief or undertaking feasibility studies. Those involved in the local needs analysis can include community stakeholders. government officials, activists and business owners.

= Setting goals and objectives =

A needs analysis in commercial ventures shares some similarities with a community needs assessment. In both instances, the process begins with information gathering, but in a local needs analysis, community engagement plays a more important role. It is up to representatives of the community to determine the needs based on a known or anticipated problem or opportunity. Then the group can establish a consensus and propose a solution.

There are usually four stages to a local needs assessment programme:

# Collection of data.
# Organisation and analysis of data.
# Presentation of results.
# Creation of action plan.

Even if a needs analysis justifies a specific course of action, it may be necessary to revisit the action plan if conditions change significantly. At this point a new assessment may be required to validate the continuation of the established course of action.

= Representing the community =

It is important to request feedback from diverse segments of the community who may or may not be invested in the direct outcome of the project. Including people from all age ranges, genders, socio-economic backgrounds and other demographics will generate a more reliable representation of the community.

Possible tools to use for the local needs analysis may include:

* Existing data.
* Public roundtables.
* Focus groups.
* Observation sessions.
* Surveys.
* Inventory or asset documentation.

This data can provide a clear, unbiased direction for the project.

Further Reading:

UK Office for National Statistics (ONS): Explore local statistics 
[https://www.ons.gov.uk/explore-local-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.ons.gov.uk/explore-local-statistics] 
(Local area datasets and indicators across population, economy, health and deprivation)

English Indices of Deprivation (IMD) 
[https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/english-indices-of-deprivation https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/english-indices-of-deprivation] 
(Official UK government statistics for socio-economic baseline comparisons)

Akerlof: The value of local needs analysis 
[https://www.akerlof.co.uk/insights/local_needs_analysis https://www.akerlof.co.uk/insights/local_needs_analysis] 
(Applied perspective on combining open data with community engagement to shape social value outcomes in the built environment)

= Related articles on Designing Building Wiki =

* Community.
* Community facilities.
* Creating social value from civil engineering projects.
* Feasibility studies for construction projects.
* Initial commissioning case studies.
* Local authority.
* Needs analysis.
* Town planning.

[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Planning_permission]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]]

Kit of parts

2025-12-31T12:25:02Z

JHIllier:

[https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/resources-landing-page/dfma-overlay-to-the-riba-plan-of-work DfMA Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work, Mainstreaming Design for Manufacture and Assembly in Construction, 2nd Edition], published by the RIBA in 2021, defines a kit of parts as: ‘A system of separate proprietary parts manufactured off site, conceived to be efficiently assembled on site. The rationale for keeping the parts separate is to allow more efficient, safer handling and transportation, and to allow flexibility (within certain constraints) in their final configuration.’

[https://akerlof.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CIH-product-platform-rulebook-edition-1.2.pdf The Product Platform Rulebook, Edition 1.2 March 2023], published by the Construction Innovation Hub defines a kit of parts as: ‘A collection of repeatable, standardised building components that are pre-engineered and designed to create a variety of assemblies which define part or all of a finished building.’'

In 2023, MHCLG commissioned [https://akerlof.co.uk/insights/dluhc-kit-of-parts/ Akerlof] to research and develop a digital 'kit of parts' for low-rise housing.

[https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2022-01713#/section PAS 8700:2025, Modern methods of construction for new build residential properties – Specification, Draft v 3.9], published by bsi in 2024, defines a kit of parts (or kit-of-parts) as a: ‘standard and modular collection of pre-manufactured building components that can be produced at scale and configured to suit the needs of a given project.

NOTE 1 These kits-of-parts are underpinned by a set of rationalised design rules and parameters that reflect the range of projects they intend to serve.

NOTE 2 The rationale for keeping the parts separate is to allow more efficient, safer handling and transportation, and to allow flexibility (within certain constraints) in their final configuration.’

= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

* BIM.
* City Cluster, Kit of Parts.
* Design for manufacture and assembly.
* DfMA overlay to RIBA plan of work.
* DfMA.
* Flat pack.
* Kit house.
* Modern methods of construction.
* Offsite manufacturing.
* RIBA plan of work v project plans v OGC gateways.
* RIBA plan of work.
* RIBA.

[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:Definitions]]

Industrialised construction

2025-12-31T12:23:53Z

JHIllier:

Industrialised Construction is defined by the [https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/workstream/next-generation-delivery/industrialised-construction/#:~:text=Industrialised%20Construction%20approaches%20are%20centred,projects%20using%20standard%20repeatable%20processes. Construction Leadership Council] as 'an approach that aims to improve productivity, predictability, and performance by reducing unnecessary variation in what we deliver, and how we deliver it'.

Industrialised construction represents a shift from the current way of project based working towards a model that is characterised by common / standardised processes, mechanised production, and advanced technology. Whilst, much of the industry views [https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Modern_methods_of_construction MMC] as synonymous with offsite, prefabricated solutions, particularly volumetric modular, the term industrialised construction seeks to realise more fundamental and far-reaching transformation.

The [https://akerlof.co.uk/industrialised%20construction/ benefits of industrialised construction] include:

* Enhanced productivity and cost-efficiency through standardised processes and economies of repetition
* Greater predictability and certainty in project outcomes, reducing risks and variability
* Seamless data exchange and integration of digital tools and techniques throughout the development lifecycle
* Improved quality and safety due to controlled manufacturing environments and consistent procedures, resulting in higher-quality buildings with fewer defects
* Increased sustainability with reduced waste, better resource management, and promotion of circular economy principles
* Adaptability to meet specific project needs while maintaining efficiency
* Transformed supply chains featuring long-term relationships and collaborative innovation
* Broader and more diverse workforce opportunities with stable employment, skills development, and training programs for new technologies and processes
* Continuous improvement across multiple programmes and projects, fostering sector-wide learning
* Improved industry resilience through reduced uncertainty and volatility, encouraging investment in innovation

In leveraging the use of common, repeatable data, systems / components, processes and relationships, product platforms are a way of embedding the principles of industrialised construction across what and how we build.

Industrialised construction is [https://akerlof.co.uk/industrialised-construction/ different to MMC] in that MMC typically refers to the adoption of offsite or prefabricated solutions within existing project-by-project delivery models, whereas industrialised construction seeks transformation of the entire delivery model—emphasising system-wide standardisation, programmatic approaches, and continuous improvement across portfolios rather than individual projects.

See also: Platform approach to construction.

See also: Industrialized construction.

= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

* Kit of parts.
* Platform approach to construction.
* Platform approach to design for manufacture and assembly.
* Platform construction.
* Platform.

[[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Client_procedures]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]] [[Category:Operations]] [[Category:Procurement]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]

Akerlof ltd

2025-12-31T12:18:58Z

JHIllier:

Akerlof Ltd is a UK-based consultancy specialising in [[Industrialised_construction|industrialised construction]] and [[Modern_methods_of_construction|Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)]]. The company is recognised for its role in shaping national policy, guidance and delivery frameworks across housing, health and infrastructure, as author of MOJ's MMC strategy, co-authors of [[Product_platform_rulebook|Product Platform Rulebook]], developer of [[Kit-of-parts|Digital Kit of Parts]] for [[MHCLG|MHCLG]], and the UKs leading [[MMC_adviser|MMC advisor]] and [[Industrialised_construction|industrialised construction]] consultancy.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]

Akerlof ltd

2025-08-17T12:08:26Z

JHIllier: Created page with "Akerlof Ltd is a UK-based consultancy specialising in industrialised construction and [[Modern_methods_of_construction|Modern Methods of Construct..."

Commercial pipeline

2025-08-17T12:03:59Z

JHIllier:

[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/941536/The_Construction_Playbook.pdf The Construction Playbook, Government Guidance on sourcing and contracting public works projects and programmes Version 1], produced by the Cabinet Office and published in December 2020, is focused on getting projects and programmes right from the start. Its principles and policies are intended to transform how public works projects and programmes are assessed, procured and managed. It is a ‘compact’ between government and industry, setting out how they will work together in future.

It states:

‘One of the most important things we can do is to prepare, maintain and publish comprehensive pipelines of current and future government contracts and commercial activity.

‘Publishing commercial pipelines enables suppliers to understand the likely future demands across government. By sharing early insights on planned activities, we can expect to achieve wider participation and greater diversity in our supply chains including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), and support capability-building for the longer term.

‘Published commercial pipelines should look ahead three to five years to be truly effective.’

Supplementing this guidance, the [[Construction_Leadership_Council_CLC|Construction Leadership Council]] have published supplementary guidance on how to improve pipeline quality: [https://akerlof.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AKLF_CLC_Construction-Pipelines_v2.pdf https://akerlof.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AKLF_CLC_Construction-Pipelines_v2.pdf]

For more information see: The Construction Playbook.

= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

* Government Construction Strategy.
* Pipeline.
* Procurement.
* Public procurement.
* Public project.
* Resolution planning.
* Should cost model.
* The Construction Playbook.

[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]

Commercial pipeline

2025-08-17T12:03:02Z

JHIllier:

[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/941536/The_Construction_Playbook.pdf The Construction Playbook, Government Guidance on sourcing and contracting public works projects and programmes Version 1], produced by the Cabinet Office and published in December 2020, is focused on getting projects and programmes right from the start. Its principles and policies are intended to transform how public works projects and programmes are assessed, procured and managed. It is a ‘compact’ between government and industry, setting out how they will work together in future.

It states:

‘One of the most important things we can do is to prepare, maintain and publish comprehensive pipelines of current and future government contracts and commercial activity.

‘Publishing commercial pipelines enables suppliers to understand the likely future demands across government. By sharing early insights on planned activities, we can expect to achieve wider participation and greater diversity in our supply chains including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), and support capability-building for the longer term.

‘Published commercial pipelines should look ahead three to five years to be truly effective.’

Supplementing this guidance, the Construction Leadership Council have published supplementary guidance on how to improve pipeline quality: [https://akerlof.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AKLF_CLC_Construction-Pipelines_v2.pdf https://akerlof.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AKLF_CLC_Construction-Pipelines_v2.pdf]

For more information see: The Construction Playbook.

= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

* Government Construction Strategy.
* Pipeline.
* Procurement.
* Public procurement.
* Public project.
* Resolution planning.
* Should cost model.
* The Construction Playbook.

[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]