The UK market for bathroom and kitchen PODs has seen an 8% increase in value and growth in volume by 4% in 2017, according to AMA Research.

It reports, there has also been some growth in demand for higher specification PODs in the luxury apartment and upmarket hotel sectors, which has contributed towards value growth.

In addition the growth in value  can partly be attributed to higher prices for steel and GRP resin being passed on to customers.

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AMA Research has found overall demand for PODs has been driven by a combination of factors, including: demand for design standardisation and fast-track construction, ongoing key skills shortages, growth in the number of sites where there is restricted space, and increasing demand in the main end-user markets.

It highlights the key sectors where PODs are used are purpose-built student accommodation, hotels and apartments, as between them they account for over 80% of installations.

In the apartments sector, there has been use of bathrooms and kitchen PODs in both social housing and luxury, high-rise developments.

By value, PODs manufactured from either glass, reinforced plastic or composite (GRP) account for the largest share of the market, while in higher specification developments, concrete or steel PODs are typically preferred.

Kitchen PODs account for less than 10% of the market, and over the next five years, AMA Research anticipates demand for PODs could grow steadily at a rate of 4-5% per year.

It states the urgent need for more affordable and rented housing in London and other major areas is expected to continue to drive demand for fast-build apartment blocks.

And AMA Research concludes the hotel sector in London and other major cities should continue to provide impetus for growth in demand for bathroom PODs in the medium term.