TTJ understands that senior Bellway personnel, including directors and buyers, have discussed the source of their CLS, with a view to using CLS from traditional imported sources, such as the Nordic countries and central Europe.
It is believed that recommendations have been made to specify CLS only from these regions on orders to suppliers.
Bellway has declined to confirm or deny whether it has decided to source only imported European CLS in the future.
"There has been no change in Bellway’s timber sourcing policy; we continue to source our timber from national and local merchants, who buy from certified PEFC and FSC managed forests," said a Bellway spokesperson.
TTJ also understands there are concerns within Bellway about the potential cost implications of any distorted home-grown CLS which leads to problems post-construction.
It is also rumoured that the housebuilder is examining cost comparisons between CLS and metal studs.
Confor chief executive Stuart Goodall said he would be concerned if a national housebuilder was looking at excluding timber inappropriately, adding that buying timber should be a case of specifying the correct grade of material, irrespective of the source.
"If timber is graded C16 then it is clearly good enough for applications where C16 is specified," he said. "There should not be any probems with that.
"Home-grown and imported timber have been graded to the same standards."
Mr Goodall said the vast majority of home-grown timber sold into the construction sector was C16.
"If C24 timber has been specified, you would not expect to use C16. If somebody is looking for C24 graded material, clearly there is very little domestic material that meets that requirement at present," he said.
Sales of home-grown timber have been rising in recent years.
UK and Irish mills have invested considerably in their production and more of their graded products are finding a market in the construction sector as they expand beyond the traditional fencing and wood packaging industries. Home-grown C16 has also enjoyed a price/currency advantage over traditional Nordic C16 timber.
