<p>McCarthy Stone has started work on one of its first schemes to be built through modern methods of construction <span>(MMC)</span><span>.</span></p> <p><span>The site in Fairfield Road, Broadstairs, Kent, is one of five to be constructed using MMC this year. The number of MMC sites for McStone will rise to ten next year, then 25 in 2024. After this point, half of the retirement housebuilder’s schemes will be constructed using MMC as per a commitment it made earlier this year.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>McStone is delivering the retirement community at Broadstairs using Sigmat’s Light Gauge Steel Framing (LGSF). It said this would accelerate construction by “up to” six weeks as well as reduce heating bills compared to a traditionally built home, with MMC improving the thermal performance of buildings. It added that the light steel frame would allow it to potentially deliver the homes at a lower cost, “to increase the availability and affordability of the development”.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>The faster build speed would also help satisfy the growing demand for later living solutions, with the nature of the construction having less impact on surrounding neighbourhoods, McStone stated. The LGSF will also see the retirement housebuilder undertake a “significant proportion” of the build off site in a …