Automation is on the rise in the built environment, with onsite robotics beginning to transform the construction of buildings and infrastructure.
Global interest in automation is driven by the need for greater efficiencies, improved productivity and enhanced safety on site as well as labour shortages. Japan was an early adopter of robotics in construction, driven by labour shortages and a culture that embraces technology.
What about here, in the UK? Investment is critical for the research, innovation and implementation of robotics. Soon after coming into power, the Labour Government’s commitment to the built environment was clear with its promise to build 1.5 million homes within five years. In the Autumn 2024 budget, £500 million of funding was allocated to the Affordable Homes Plan and £3 billion to support SME house builders. There is also a clear directive to invest in AI and other technologies to boost industry. In June 2025, the National Robotarium welcomed the UK government’s £40 million robotics investment to create a network of robotics adoption hubs as part of the new Industrial Strategy.
The combination of investment in the built environment and robotics could prove to be transformative for the construction sector, but evidence of progress is unclear. Where are we seeing real impact, and what’s next for automation and onsite robotics in construction?
Where the Technology Stands Now
While robotics has seen widespread industrial deployment, construction robotics is still at an early adoption stage when it comes to large scale use.
A 2024 review paper published in the journal Sustainability, titled ‘Challenges of Robotic Technology in Sustainable Construction Practice’ states the construction industry has witnessed an increase in the adoption of robots in recent years due to various factors including increased efficiency, high precision, greater safety, a more reliable workforce, improved sustainability and adaptability. However, progress remains slow partly due to upfront costs, barriers for small construction contractors, and resistance amongst workers to job automation. Progress is, however, more rapid in niche areas.
The review paper highlighted above details some of the construction tasks currently being performed by robotics, including:
- SAM (Semi-Automatic Mason): A robotic bricklaying machine capable of placing thousands of bricks per day. While still in development stages for widespread UK use, it represents a major shift in repetitive task automation.
- TyBot and IronBot: Used for autonomous tying and rebar placing, especially in bridge construction. The implementation of these robots shows promise for infrastructure-scale tasks.
- Built Robotics: Excavation robots retrofitted onto existing machinery, currently being trialled globally in commercial projects including energy and civil engineering applications.
- Hadrian X by FBR: A robotic system capable of building walls using a 3D CAD model, demonstrating how robotics can seamlessly integrate with digital design workflows.
- Plastering robots: Designed to scan walls, apply plaster with high accuracy, maintain a constant thickness of the plaster, and reduce ergonomic problems and the costs of spraying interior walls. A research paper, ‘Interactive Robotic Plastering: Augmented Interactive Design and Fabrication for On-site Robotic Plastering’presented the Interactive Robotic Plastering (IRoP) system that enables designers and skilled workers to engage intuitively with an in-situ robotic plastering process.
A Gov.UK independent report highlights how the UK lags behind global leaders in industrial robotics adoption. Current construction automation trends in the UK achieve an economic output of £0.1 billion, whereas if potential rates of automation are achieved by 2035, this will increase to a staggering £46.8 billion.
The UK is recognised as a leader in robotics research, however, its progress in applying these innovations within the construction sector still lags behind. Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) — such as HS2 and the New Hospital Programme — represent major opportunities for trialling and scaling robotics in live environments. These high-value, long-term projects could reap transformational benefits from robotic technologies, from automating repetitive tasks to enhancing site safety and precision. Strategic partnerships between Tier 1 contractors, their supply chain and academic institutions will be critical to developing and piloting robotics solutions and accelerating their adoption across the UK construction sector.
The Challenges that are Slowing Progress of Robotics Adoption
Barriers to robotics adoption in construction include:
- Capital and operational expenditure
- Variances in construction sites
- Regulatory safety certifications (e.g., CE marking) required for robotic equipment
- Skills gap in robotics implementation and maintenance
Overcoming the skills gap is a key strategy for the Robotics Growth Partnership (RGP), an independent expert committee appointed by the Government. It calls for a national Skills Maintenance and Development programme across higher and further education to ensure a pipeline of talent from technicians through to specialist researchers and engineers.
Training in robotics for existing construction workers faces challenges including high upfront costs, securing the commitment of specialist trainers, integration with existing workflows, adapting training to the intricacies of different construction projects, and a lack of continuous training.
In a Tech UK article published in June 2025, The National Robotarium has called for a UK co-ordinated approach to address the readiness gap many businesses face: “The UK should establish a national framework for robotics adoption that includes sector-specific guidance on safe implementation practices, clear regulatory pathways that enable innovation while protecting public interests, financial incentives that help businesses manage transition costs, and skills development programs that prepare the workforce for changing job requirements.”
To understand the bigger picture of how robotics might transform construction, we spoke to Academic Partner of CCBP Dr Frédéric Bosché from the University of Edinburgh. He shared his thoughts on why the industry hasn’t yet seen widespread robotic adoption—and what might change that in the near future.
“It is hard to imagine that the on-going skills shortages in the construction sector will ever be resolved without changing how we build. Robotics (alongside off-site manufacturing) can in theory help us address this long-standing challenge, while potentially delivering additional benefits in terms of safety and productivity. Yet, the application of robotics has seen little success to date. This may however change rapidly, as we have recently seen a range of robotic solutions coming out of labs and being tested and deployed on site. But, many challenges remain to be addressed before robots are routinely seen on construction sites, around technological maturity and robustness, design-for-robotic-construction digital integration, workforce training, regulation.”
Dr Frédéric Bosché, University of Edinburgh, Senior Lecturer and Reader in Construction Informatics
A Look Ahead – What’s Genuinely Coming Next?
Where could robotics meaningfully enter mainstream operations in the UK by 2030?
Here we explore three areas where robotics can realistically be deployed within a relatively short timeframe.
- Drones: A research paper published by Queen’s University Belfast included a case study of the development of a drone project by a building contractor. The use of drones for progress images, programme management and scheduling activities, was first introduced by the company in 2014. Drones are now used by the company on most new build projects to report on site progress, with many clients requesting monthly drone footage within specified project deliverables. The data is also sent to Health & Safety teams to identify any works within the construction operations that may present a hazard. Moreover, other advancements include Aerial additive manufacturing (Aerial AM). University-led trials now explore drones depositing materials mid-air—adding a construction layer rather than just surveillance. Multi‑robot collaboration and autonomous mapping. Academic studies are testing fleets of drones and robots that can self-navigate, map sites in high detail, and track inventory with minimal prior input or human oversight.
- Autonomous logistics using delivery bots for materials: Autonomous delivery robots (ADRs) automate the last-mile delivery process of construction materials. They are equipped with GPS, AI and sensors to navigate their way along roads and walkways to transport and deliver goods.
- Task-orientated robotic systems for repetitive mechanical tasks: Commercially available construction robots today are typically designed for a single, specialised purpose—such as painting, bricklaying, layout, or plastering—rather than being modular systems that can be reconfigured for multiple functions. These task-orientated machines can excel at repetitive, time-consuming jobs, helping to improve productivity and free up human workers for more complex activities.
What This Means for Investment and Skills Strategy
To maximise investment in robotics and develop a successful skills strategy, it is imperative contractors, academic partners and policymakers collaborate. Input from all corners of construction will provide a robust platform for skills planning initiatives, like those stipulated by the Robotics Growth Partnership, that will enable faster and more comprehensive adoption in the future.
Given the challenges of deploying robots directly on busy, unpredictable construction sites, MMC offers a practical alternative—bringing the work to the robot in a controlled factory environment. By integrating robotics into off-site manufacturing processes, the industry can overcome many of the barriers to on-site automation, while still realising the benefits in quality, speed, and safety once components are assembled on location. Investment in robotic capabilities will be central to this shift and to the broader trajectory of Modern Methods of Construction. The Construction Playbook dedicates an entire section to MMC, stating they will be used to transform how public works projects are delivered.
Are We Ready for the Robotic Construction Site?
As evidenced by research, case studies and current applications, a robotic construction site can yield greater efficiencies, improved safety and enhanced quality.
However, while there is a growing acceptance of the benefits of robotics in construction, it can be argued the ecosystem is not yet ready for widespread adoption. While there is Government funding to support robotics, SME construction businesses do not have the investment potential of larger organisations which is stalling progress at the core of the industry.
While “collaboration” has been a familiar refrain in construction reports for decades, the challenge now is to move beyond aspiration into tangible, measurable action. Tackling skills shortages, high costs, supply chain fragmentation, and worker concerns about automation will require more than words—it demands structured partnerships between contractors, technology providers, policymakers, and educators. By focusing on real-world pilot projects and long-term strategies, the industry can begin to embed robotics into construction in a way that delivers faster, safer, and more efficient building methods.