Is it time for timber in UK development to go mainstream?

In September, Timber Growth UK grew to become the most important timber provide chain physique within the UK following the merger of the Timber Commerce Federation and TRADA, bringing collectively greater than 1,500 companies. As TDUK appears to be like forward to the way forward for the timber commerce sector, TDUK chief government Dave Hopkins asks whether or not timber in UK development has a bigger position to play

Timber is considered a sustainable resource in UK construction- particularly within the constructed surroundings. In contrast to different supplies, timber is renewable and usually produces much less carbon throughout manufacturing than different assets equivalent to metal and concrete.

The UK built environment is responsible for approximately 25% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. With a legally binding goal to succeed in web zero by the 12 months 2050, the federal government has additionally dedicated to attaining 68% reductions in carbon emissions by 2030.

We now discover ourselves at a singular second in time with initiatives in areas equivalent to sustainability and lowering embodied and whole-life carbon excessive on the agenda. That is forcing the trade right into a interval of unprecedented self-reflection because it reconsiders the kind of supplies used and the way in which buildings are constructed.

Advantages of timber in UK development

Timber, particularly fashionable engineered timber equivalent to cross-laminated timber, brings a number of benefits, together with being properly suited to prefabrication and meeting offsite in manufacturing unit circumstances ultimate for Modern Methods of Construction. It is usually considerably lighter than concrete and metal making it simpler to work with and extra environment friendly to move.

You’ll be able to already see this in operation as we speak by way of the trussed rafters, that are seen on constructing websites all around the UK.

Trussed rafters are manufactured offsite and transported to website, this not solely eliminates the issue of storage however builders can add the trussed rafters straight on to the constructing – saving the time required to assemble and minimising the necessity for on-site corrections.

With the event of versatile engineered timbers, this precept can now be utilized to many extra development actions, together with frames, high-rise and modular development merchandise.

On the identical time, wooden is a pure materials, aesthetically pleasing whereas offering consolation throughout seasonal adjustments due to its biophilic properties. The usage of timber has additionally been confirmed to spice up productiveness and wellbeing, whereas being well-suited to traits round sustainability.

Limitations to mainstream adoption of timber development

In England, wooden tends to play an even bigger half in inside design, from wood furnishings to fixtures and fittings. It’s heading in a great route; nevertheless, there are apparent obstacles to wider adoption equivalent to a scarcity of incentives to be used of timber for large-scale development, laws which favour concrete and metal and, most necessary of all, a abilities hole for the usage of timber.

If timber was to play an even bigger position in UK development, it’s also necessary to think about the present state of the trade. The fragmented nature of the timber provide chain is a key difficulty that the formation of Timber Growth UK will start to handle to assist it compete with metal and concrete.

The UK may even want to make sure there’s a regular provide of sustainable sources of timber when demand will increase – and that the logistics are in place to make sure a web zero provide chain.

Upskilling for timber development

Maybe the most important hurdle surrounding the use of timber in the UK is training.

With metal and concrete firmly embedded in UK development, it is very important guarantee engineers, architects and specifiers have a robust understanding concerning the usage of timber, equivalent to learn how to construct with it, its properties and the way it pertains to current Constructing Laws.

Timber Growth UK is working with Edinburgh Napier College and NMITE to offer intensive assets to designers and the trade at giant, nevertheless it’s clear to us {that a} vital cultural shift might want to happen within the UK if timber is to develop into a first-choice constructing materials.

New traits in timber development

Suggestions on how timber can help a web zero trade had been talked about within the Building to Net Zero: Costing Carbon in Construction by the Environmental Audit Committee. The report included suggestions on mandating whole-life carbon assessments, which might give automated incentives to the development trade to start out selecting lower-carbon supplies and to undertake strategies of development to which timber is properly suited.

It is usually necessary to think about the traits we’re seeing outdoors of the UK. We’re seeing cities such as Amsterdam and Toronto putting in plans to build entire neighbourhoods from wood and we could start to see this development going mainstream within the subsequent few years.

Taken collectively we see a once-in-a-lifetime alternative for utilising timber in UK development to develop into a mainstream possibility. By forming the most important commerce affiliation for the timber trade, Timber Growth UK is able the place we are able to unite the sector to make this occur.