UK Bathroom and Kitchen Pods Market to See 12% Growth by 2028

The UK bathroom and kitchen pods market is projected to have a marginal growth increase of +12% in 2028. The 9^th edition of the UK bathroom and kitchen pods market report presents our forecast from 2024 to 2028 for the following products:

• Bathroom pods (including bedroom pods that are installed as combined units)
• Shower-room pods (including wetroom pods)
• Kitchen pods
• Utility pods

Market Overview

The UK bathroom market has been showing good growth in recent years, despite being impacted by a declined in economic conditions leading to inflationary pressures, but also lower activity in the construction sector following 2020.

Improving conditions in the construction sector, and stabilised economic conditions, have supported market growth in the bathroom and kitchen pods market.

Further, the need for new housing pushes for the use of MMC techniques as they may reduce construction time, which should positively impact the bathroom and kitchen pods market.

Bathroom and kitchen pods are generally supplied by the manufacturer directly to the contractor or building developer, with some important manufacturers in the UK but also an increase in imports from overseas.

The lack of space, the increasing need for housing in urban areas, and the need for sustainable and quick methods of construction are all factors likely to positively impact the bathroom and kitchen pods market in the next five years.

What impacts the market?

The UK bathroom and kitchen pods market tends to be strongly impacted by the construction sector activities in the UK, itself impacted by economic downturns, and experienced a sharp decline of -15% marginal growth in 2020, reaching £182m at Manufacturer Selling Price (MSP). Thus, recent economic uncertainties, particularly through 2023, also had an impact on the market.

However, with improving economic conditions and the increase of construction activity in certain sector, such as student accommodation, care homes, and built-to-rent, the bathroom and kitchen pods is expected to grow in the next five years, with market forecast suggesting a +12% marginal growth in 2028, reaching £311m at MSP.

Although the construction sector is generally suffering from a lack of skilled workers, particularly since the UK exited the EU, it may create opportunities for bathroom and kitchen pods manufacturers.

Additionally, the market continues to expand towards greater flexibility in design, the use of demountable pods for projects with restricted access – which also facilitates future RMI activities, the wide use of building information modelling technology and virtual reality software, and even the introduction of smart technologies within pods.

Further, with sustainability being a growing political and market trend, pods production has shown great signs of recyclability, and an important reduction in construction time, transportation, and packaging use, thus reducing embedded carbon emissions.

Product Mix

Bathroom pods and shower-room pods are the largest product categories within this market and continue to enjoy growth prospects, despite kitchen-pods and utility-pods also having good growth prospects for the next five years.

In general, the market is growing and the average market price in 2023 has increased compared to 2022 levels. With the need to resolve the UK’s housing shortage, but the increasing number of students, ageing population, or investments within the military and detention sector, MMC construction techniques are being praised for the efficiency and durability.

Hence, bathroom and kitchen pods will be positively impacted by these events.

Bathroom pods typically include a bath, toilet, and washbasin, while shower-room pods replace baths by a shower enclosure or wetroom area, the latter being preferred for care homes for instance due to its accessibility.

Materials used for bathroom pods include Glass Reinforced Plastic composite, steel-framed, and concrete.

Kitchen pods typically have integrated appliances, such as a cooker, washing machine, dishwasher, and a sink. Utility pods tend to be used in residential apartments, featuring mechanical ventilation, heating, and other building services.

Major manufacturers across all three product categories include: Walker Modular, Offsite Solutions, Bathsystem, Elements, Paddington Offsite, and PKL Group.

Bathroom and Kitchen Pods Distribution

Bathroom and kitchen pods tend to be sourced directly from manufacturers. In general, manufacturers even transport the product to the construction site, deliver and install it themselves, or with specialist subcontractors.

However, imports in the UK remain high. An important feature of the market is the design stage, in which the client, contractor, and architect are usually a part of, particularly in upmarket projects where customisation and the use of high-value component is preferred. However, standard designs are also available, offering a more cost-effective option.

Despite economic uncertainties in 2020 and 2023, delaying growth in the overall construction sector, demand for new housing remains strong.

With a need to quickly deliver, MMC techniques, and particularly bathroom and kitchen pods, are likely to be widely used across different sectors, from student accommodation to affordable housing and built-to-rent developments. RMI activities are also likely to happen, with refurbishment expected in hotels, particularly with the growing trend of ‘staycations’.

Market Forecast

Kitchen and utility pods are expected to grow by +50% in volume in 2028 compared to 2023 levels, and bathroom pods are expected to grow almost +40% in volume in 2028 compared to 2023 levels.

A greater focus on sustainability, such as more water saving features and efficient lighting, or flexibility, such as the development of a combined bedroom and ensuite, is likely to appear in the medium to long term.