Timber frame heading for 27% new housing market share

The Timber Trends report, published by the Structural Timber Association (STA), analyses the market growth of timber frame housing from 2013 and forecasts growth to 2017.

The report shows that since 2013 there has been a steady increase in house starts, with more than 150,000 homes built per year. This increase in construction has consequently resulted in an increase in timber frame homes, with a 2% increase of market share between 2013-2014.

“The advantages of high quality, quickly built timber frame homes and commercial buildings have become increasingly recognised by a wider audience, not least by the government where the benefits that timber frame provides will help meet new home building targets,” said Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA).

“These benefits are increasingly enjoyed by construction companies, as recently confirmed by the adoption of timber frame as a mainstream method by Barratt Developments plc and with similar large scale operations also in the process of turning to structural timber solutions.”

An active part in the progression of timber frame construction, the STA has supported the growth of the sector through technical guidance, marketing, training and political lobbying activities. This has been reflected in the recent increase in members of the STA to more than 350, a significant increase since its creation in 2013.

“Approximately 40% more detached timber frame homes were built in England in 2014 than in 2013. As the trend continues to make progress in the private housing sector, now is the ideal time for structural timber companies to take advantage of the vast number of opportunities available to them.”