Timber frame set for 25% market share

6 December 2012


Timber frame will account for nearly a quarter of all UK newbuild housing in 2014, according to the latest UK Timber Frame Association report.

Prepared by Timbertrends, the study says that timber frame will grow faster than other build methods to make up 18.4% of new private housing, and 59.4% of social construction within the next two years.

Currently, the overall housing market is described as weak, with starts predicted to fall a further 3% in 2012, following contraction to 135,890 in 2011.

However, last year timber frame’s UK market share returned to growth, up 1% to 22.8%, a total of 31, 700 units.

The report does not predict a major bounce in overall housebuilding to 2014, but sees it growing to 139,000 starts next year, and 151,000 the year after, thanks to government moves to relax planning rules and free up access to credit and investment.

A squeeze on social housing expenditure will see timber frame’s starts in this sector falling until 2014, but private starts are predicted to hit annual growth of 16-18%.

The industry, says the report, will be boosted by measures to boost building efficiency and sustainability, with timber frame particularly suited to offsite construction.

It will also benefit from the UKTFA’s Site Safe scheme to improve timber frame construction site fire and general safety, and its Fabric First campaign, highlighting timber frame’s ability to achieve high energy performance without renewables technology.