The pharmaceutical industry is no stranger to innovation. From pioneering drug development to advanced manufacturing processes, it thrives on new ideas. But when it comes to construction, particularly the delivery of critical infrastructure such as laboratories, cleanrooms, and research facilities, many companies in the sector still rely on traditional building methods.
With increasing pressure to accelerate time to market, meet sustainability targets, and deliver flexible, future-ready facilities, this approach may no longer offer the speed or adaptability the sector increasingly requires.
Significant investment in the United Kingdom’s (UK) biotech sector, as reported by the UK BioIndustry Association in 2023, highlights the growing need for infrastructure that can support this rapid growth. With traditional construction timelines often unable to keep up with commercial and clinical demands, there is a clear case for faster, more flexible delivery models.
Other sectors, notably healthcare, have already embraced modular construction as a faster, smarter way to build. In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) regularly uses modular and offsite construction methods to deliver complex healthcare environments, from operating theatres to ward blocks, in half the time of traditional construction. Given the similarities in regulatory and technical requirements, it’s worth exploring why the pharmaceutical sector has been slower to adopt the same approach.
