An expert panel in the House of Lords has debated the use of structural timber to accelerate housebuilding.
The panel, convened at the Palace of Westminster by the Structural Timber Association, was headed up by House of Commons Public Accounts Committee member Matt Turmaine MP and Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
The politicians were joined on the panel by Andrew Orriss, CEO, Structural Timber Association; Scott Wolters, Sales Director, Building Division, Egger UK; Darren Jarman, Managing Director, Lowfield Timber Frames; and Peter Lacey, Production Director – Developments, Places for People.
The event was also attended by housebuilders and social housing providers.
“The benefits of building in structural timber are clear – both in terms of speed of building and the sustainability and quality of the materials and practices used,” said Matt Turmaine MP. Member of Parliament for Watford said:
“Structural timber has a massive role to play in building more homes now and into the 2030s and beyond.”
Andrew Orriss, CEO, Structural Timber Association said seven out of the top 15 UK housebuilders are planning to manufacture in timber frame.
Companies including Vistry, Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Redrow Developments, Bellway, Persimmon, Cala Homes and Avant Homes are seeing the benefits of building in timber frame.
“We look forward to working closely with the UK Government to accelerate housebuilding throughout this Parliament and beyond, helping it and the construction sector meet the UK’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions,” said Mr Orriss.
