The 2025 Guide to Smarter Temporary Site Accommodation

Every project starts with people, and people need the right place to stay.

Across the UK, construction and mechanical engineering teams are working further from home, often in remote areas with limited local housing. The quality of their accommodation shapes how safely, efficiently, and confidently they perform.

At Rhino Recruitment, we’ve seen what happens when this part of project planning is handled well and when it isn’t. The difference can be a team that arrives rested, focused, and reliable, or one that burns out halfway through a job.

This guide explores how site accommodation has evolved, what options work best, and why smart planning can save money, strengthen safety, and keep your workforce motivated from start to finish.

Why Accommodation Is a Strategic Factor in 2025

Labour is the backbone of every site. Yet accommodation is often treated as an afterthought, bundled in with travel or left to workers to arrange themselves. It shouldn’t be.

The Health and Safety Executive links fatigue to as many as 20% of workplace accidents. Long commutes before or after shifts compound the problem.

When crews are housed within half an hour of site, lateness drops, safety improves, and morale lifts. It also supports retention, something Rhino’s own placement data highlights across construction and mechanical engineering teams nationwide.

In mechanical engineering, particularly in marine environments, the stakes are even higher. Engineers working with precision systems or confined spaces cannot afford fatigue. Well-placed, comfortable accommodation directly impacts the quality of their work.

Demand Across Construction and Mechanical Engineering

The UK’s project pipeline continues to expand, and housing supply near sites has not kept pace. At Hinkley Point C, more than 2,500 worker beds were built to support the project’s workforce.

Smaller projects face the same challenge. Mechanical installations, fabrication upgrades, and marine maintenance all rely on skilled labour arriving from multiple regions. These teams often stay for months, not weeks, so ad hoc hotel bookings are rarely enough.

Contractors who plan accommodation early gain control over budgets and avoid last-minute costs. They also protect workforce continuity by ensuring each phase of work has stable, local housing available.

Accommodation Models That Deliver Results

Serviced Apartments and Shared Housing

Serviced housing strikes the best balance between comfort and cost for long stays. Workers can cook their own meals, wash clothes, and unwind between shifts, all of which make a real difference to morale.

At Rhino, we often coordinate these properties for mechanical engineering teams during planned shutdowns. A shared house close to site helps maintain team cohesion and cuts fatigue for everyone involved.

Learn more about how we organise housing and logistics on our Workforce Accommodation page.

Modular and Site-Based Units

Remote or high-security projects often need modular accommodation. These setups are especially valuable for marine mechanical engineers who work in dockyards or coastal facilities. Staying on-site removes the risk of delays caused by ferry crossings, weather, or restricted access zones.

We’ve seen projects save full working days over the course of a month simply by switching from hotels 40 miles away to modular housing within the compound.

Hotels and Short-Term Lets

Hotels are still useful for smaller or fast-moving teams. They are easy to book and flexible on duration. However, they can become expensive for long-term projects. After the 28-day threshold, HMRC’s VAT reduction rule provides savings on extended business accommodation (Croner Taxwise).

Holiday Parks and Seasonal Lets

For rural or coastal work, especially in mechanical and marine sectors, holiday parks often fill the accommodation gap. Many sites offer static caravans or chalets at decent rates.

Legal and Compliance Essentials

Employers providing accommodation carry clear responsibilities under CDM 2015 and HSE welfare regulations. Compliance protects staff and shields companies from serious penalties.

- Heating, lighting, and safe sleeping conditions

- Toilets, showers, and washing facilities in hygienic condition

- Gas and electrical safety certificates

- Fire alarms and evacuation procedures

- HMO licensing where multiple unrelated workers share accommodation

The HSE has previously prosecuted companies for housing workers in unheated site offices or unsafe caravans. Rhino’s network of accommodation partners are vetted to prevent these risks, ensuring every booking meets both safety and welfare standards.

If you’re unsure what standards apply to your project, visit our FAQ page for guidance on accommodation, compliance, and workforce support.

Mechanical and Marine Engineering: A Different Challenge

Mechanical engineering brings its own logistical hurdles. Projects can run for months inside restricted zones like shipyards, refineries, or heavy manufacturing plants, often with limited housing nearby.

Marine mechanical engineers face even tougher conditions. Refits and repairs in coastal yards demand long shifts, round-the-clock rotations, and fast response times. When accommodation isn’t close, fatigue and downtime increase sharply.

We’ve helped coordinate modular housing for dockyard maintenance teams, where the nearest hotels were over 45 minutes away. The result was fewer delays, smoother rotations, and happier crews.

The Productivity Payoff

Comfortable housing isn’t a luxury; it’s a performance tool. Rhino’s experience shows that when accommodation improves, productivity follows.

- Absenteeism drops by around 20% when workers move from hotels to serviced housing

- Turnover decreases as crews settle into reliable routines

- Safety improves because well-rested workers make fewer mistakes

How Leading Contractors Manage It

- Forecast workforce numbers early and secure local housing before demand peaks

- Combine serviced housing with modular units to balance cost and comfort

- Use consolidated invoicing to track spend across recruitment, travel, and lodging

- Check compliance documents before check-in

- Monitor worker feedback to ensure standards stay high

The Rhino Recruitment Approach

Rhino Recruitment connects workforce and welfare under one coordinated plan. We recruit, mobilise, and house skilled teams across the UK and overseas, ensuring that every stage of a project runs smoothly.

- Rapid mobilisation and start-up support

- Compliant accommodation for all placements

- Consistent communication with site managers and staff

That integration of people and place is what makes Rhino the only reliable all-in-one staffing provider for complex projects. Explore how we manage this process in detail on our Workforce Accommodation page.

Key Takeaways

- Plan housing early to avoid mobilisation delays

- Keep workers within 30 minutes of site

- Blend serviced housing, modular units, and seasonal lets for flexibility

- Check compliance before move-in

- Partner with agencies that understand both recruitment and accommodation

Final Word

Good accommodation is not an add-on; it is part of project performance. From high-rise construction to marine mechanical refits, the way teams are housed determines how well they work.

Rhino Recruitment combines workforce expertise with accommodation management to keep every project moving efficiently and safely.

Looking to simplify workforce housing for your next project?
Visit Rhino Recruitment’s Workforce Accommodation page to see how we can build your recruitment and lodging plan together.