Offsite Construction in China: A Systematic Review of Sustainability Barriers

Strategic Insights -

A new study has shed light on the challenges hindering the adoption of offsite construction (OSC) in China, a country that aims to meet the ambitious target of 100% OSC adoption by 2035 as mandated by the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan. The research, conducted by Bath Spa University, analyzed 48 research articles published between 2013 and 2023 to identify the key barriers to OSC adoption in China. The study found that the five most frequent barriers are lack of skills and expertise in OSC, absence of design codes and national standards for prefabrication, poor cooperation and integration among stakeholders, immature regulatory systems, and complexity in OSC project management.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified lack of skills and expertise in OSC as the most frequent barrier to adoption, cited in 34% of the research articles analyzed.
  • Absence of design codes and national standards for prefabrication was the second most frequent barrier, cited in 29% of the articles.
  • Poor cooperation and integration among stakeholders was cited in 26% of the articles as a major barrier to OSC adoption.
  • Immature regulatory systems were cited as a barrier in 24% of the articles, hindering the development of OSC in China.
  • Complexity in OSC project management was identified as a barrier in 22% of the articles, making it difficult for organizations to adopt OSC.
  • The study's findings suggest that the Chinese government's targets for OSC adoption may be challenging to meet due to the numerous barriers hindering the industry's growth.
  • The Fourteenth Five-Year Plan aims to have at least 30% of new homes constructed using OSC techniques by 2025, with a target of 100% by 2035.
  • The study suggests that addressing the barriers identified can help support the greater uptake of OSC in China.
  • The research emphasizes the importance of design codes and national standards for prefabrication to promote the use of OSC in China.
  • The study's authors, Mahmoud Alhawamdeh and Angela Lee, highlight the need for greater cooperation and integration among stakeholders in the supply chain to overcome barriers to OSC adoption.
  • The research provides valuable insights into the challenges facing the OSC industry in China and can inform policy and decision-making to support sustainable construction practices.

Statistics:

  • 34% of the research articles analyzed cited lack of skills and expertise in OSC as a barrier to adoption.
  • 29% of the articles cited absence of design codes and national standards for prefabrication as a barrier.
  • 26% of the articles cited poor cooperation and integration among stakeholders as a major barrier to OSC adoption.
  • 24% of the articles cited immature regulatory systems as a barrier to OSC adoption.
  • 22% of the articles cited complexity in OSC project management as a barrier to adoption.
  • The study analyzed 48 research articles published between 2013 and 2023.
  • The Chinese government's target for OSC adoption is at least 30% by 2025 and 100% by 2035.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Data on Sustainability Research Published by Researchers at Bath Spa University (Towards Sustainable Construction in China: A Systematic Review of Barriers to Offsite Methods). China Weekly News. October 14, 2025; p 107.
  • Towards Sustainable Construction in China: A Systematic Review of Barriers to Offsite Methods. Buildings, 2025,15(18):3299. (Buildings - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings)
  • MDPI AG.