Timber is a versatile and sustainable material that is widely used in construction because of its strength and durability. Demand for timber frame manufacturers in the UK is set to rise as the government and developers are increasingly recognising the importance of using sustainably managed building materials with low embodied carbon.
Structural timber has many other advantages, including flexibility of design and manufacture, the potential for off-site construction, and reduced build times and on-site carbon emissions. This also provides a faster return on investment and means the construction process is more predictable, and less subject to delays and labour and skills shortages.
More funds for house building in Autumn Budget
It is no surprise therefore that the timber industry welcomes the boost given to the Government’s house building plans in the Autumn budget. Timber Media reports that the funds for the affordable homes programme has been increased to £3.1 billion, alongside a further £3 billion to increase the UK’s housing stock and support smaller housebuilders.
The Labour government has set a mandatory target to deliver 1.5 million new homes during the next five years in an effort to tackle the deepening housing crisis, reversing previous housing policy. An overhaul of the planning system is also underway to make it easier and simpler to identify potential sites for new housing developments.
This includes default permission to build homes on brownfield sites, and prioritising ‘grey belt’ land, which is poor quality greenbelt land that often exists on the fringes of towns and cities or alongside roads, such as scrubland and disused quarries, petrol stations and car parks. It will also be easier to unlock some areas of greenbelt land.
How structural timber will help housing targets to be met
The structural timber sector is poised to play a key role in the delivery of these plans. According to the Timber Media report, there is the capacity to deliver 100,000 new timber frame homes per year, making up a significant portion of the annual housing target.
Andrew Carpenter, CEO of the Structural Timber Association, commented: “This is welcome news indeed and the structural timber sector is poised to support delivery of these plans. We applaud the focus on social housing, as well as the recognition that planning can be an obstacle in housing growth.”
He added: “Overall, this is a good starting point from which the industry can move forwards, but we would urge the Government not to miss the huge opportunity that is presented by aligning house building ambitions with the country’s pressing environmental challenges.”
“With such high targets, achieving this rapid upscaling while also meeting net zero obligations will require a fundamental change in how we build, the materials we use, and the way we attract new people into the construction industry.”
“Increasing the use of sustainable materials such as timber and adopting efficient offsite construction methods is the best solution to delivering the Government’s aspirations.”
In late 2023, the previous government introduced a statutory tree and woodland cover target to increase the tree canopy cover in England to 16.5 per cent. The ultimate goal is to increase the use of timber in construction, and reduce embodied carbon in the built environment. This is part of the wider Net Zero strategy, with a target of 2050.
According to the press release, the use of timber can reduce the embodied carbon emissions in a single building by 20 to 60 per cent. Furthermore, timber framed buildings can actively store carbon at twice the rate of buildings constructed from concrete. Sustainably managed forests also contribute to carbon sequestration.
Methods of timber construction
The most common use of structural timber (timber that is used in the load bearing structure of the building) in the UK is open or closed panel timber framed systems. These are usually manufactured off site. This method of construction is mostly used in housebuilding. Modular timber systems are also used to build houses, flats, and hotels.
Trussed rafter roofs and roof trusses are also frequently made from structural timber. A newer form of timber construction are mass timber systems, which involve using engineered timber that is combined with other materials. This makes it suitable for use in larger structures such as offices, shops and factories.