Hockley Mills – Offsite Drywall Innovation for Urban Mixed-Use Development
Project Overview
- Client / Main Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine
- Location: Birmingham, UK
- Project Type: Mixed-use commercial and residential development
- Product Specification: Siniat Fireboard Systems
- Contract Value: £5.4 million
- Programme Duration: 64 weeks
The Challenge
Located in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, Hockley Mills is a landmark redevelopment combining retail, residential, and leisure spaces.
The contractor faced several major challenges:
1. Tight Programme Deadlines
With a 64-week build schedule, time-intensive on-site board cutting risked delays.
2. Complex Layouts
Multi-floor construction required precise sequencing and batching of materials.
3. Strict Sustainability & Compliance Targets
The build specification demanded BREEAM alignment and minimal plasterboard waste.
The solution needed to combine speed, accuracy, and sustainability without compromising quality.
The Drywall Pro-Cut Solution
Drywall Pro-Cut supplied a full suite of offsite manufactured drywall components, engineered from Siniat Fireboard and delivered in sequence.
By cutting every piece to exact design tolerances in our controlled production facility, we eliminated on-site cutting, reduced waste, and improved installation efficiency.
Components Supplied
| Component | Quantity | Labour Hours Saved | Labour Days Saved | Waste Prevented (m²) | Waste Prevented (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deflection Heads | 18,717 lm | 1,170 | 146 | 542.29 | 7,197 |
| Builders Work Openings | 395 No. | 247 | 31 | 9.73 | 129 |
| Siniat Door Sets | 2,599 No. | 223 | 28 | – | – |
| Plywood Pattresses (560 × 2440 mm) |
3,845 No. | 64 | 8 | 433.71 | 3,278.9 |
| Totals | – | 1,704 | 213 | 985.73 | 10,604.9 |
Measurable Project Gains
- 1,704 labour hours saved: accelerating installation and allowing redeployment of site resources.
- Over 10 tonnes of plasterboard waste prevented, supporting BREEAM material efficiency credits.
- Cleaner, safer working environments with no on-site board cutting.
- Sequenced deliveries floor-by-floor, enabling smooth coordination across trades.
- Fire-rated compliance using Siniat 15 mm Fireboard across all partitions and openings.
Sustainability and Compliance
All components were pre-manufactured under ISO 9001 quality management and CCPI traceability standards.
By manufacturing offsite, Drywall Pro-Cut ensured Golden Thread alignment and reduced the carbon impact of on-site activities.
This approach directly supported the project’s BREEAM Excellent rating, cutting transport emissions, dust, and disposal costs while maintaining full documentation for regulatory compliance.
Why Contractors Choose Offsite Drywall from Drywall Pro-Cut
- Programme Certainty: Offsite production eliminates on-site delays and unpredictable weather downtime.
- Safety and Wellbeing: Fewer manual handling incidents and reduced airborne dust.
- Cost Control: Fixed, predictable manufacturing and delivery schedules.
- Sustainability: Measurable waste reduction and lower embodied carbon.
- Compliance Confidence: Traceable, labelled deliveries aligned with UK Building Safety Act requirements.
FAQs
How can offsite drywall manufacturing reduce total project costs?
Are Siniat Fireboard systems suitable for fire-rated and acoustic partitions?
Can Drywall Pro-Cut supply directly to tier-one contractors nationwide?
How does offsite drywall manufacturing support BREEAM certification?
How can I get a project-specific quotation or technical review?
Ready to Optimise Your Next Development?
For large-scale residential or mixed-use projects, Drywall Pro-Cut’s offsite drywall manufacturing service delivers measurable time, cost, and sustainability gains.
Contact us to discuss your next project and experience precision-engineered efficiency from design to delivery.
Call: 01827 213201 | Email: enquiries@drywallpro-cut.co.uk
