A distinguished group of forestry leaders have been shown the benefits of the Welsh Ty Unnos modular timber construction system, which it has been claimed could “revolutionise the construction industry in Great Britain”.
Lord Clark of Windermere, Forestry Commission chairman; Tim Rollinson, director-general of the Forestry Commission; Trefor Owen, director of Forestry Commission Wales; and Paul Hill-Tout, director of Forestry Commission England were among the group that saw the system close-up at Forestry Commission Wales’ centre in Coed y Brenin.
Ty Unnos, which translates as “one-night house”, uses low-value standard Welsh softwood to create box beams for the construction of homes and other buildings. It has been developed by a collaboration between Coed Cymru, Bangor University and the Welsh School of Architecture, with support from Cowley Timber Engineering.
The use of low-value timber, sustainability and enhanced construction speed offered by the system have led some in the Welsh forestry industry to claim the system could change the face of the construction across the UK.
“This is an excellent example of how the Welsh timber sector, guided by the Wales Forest Business Partnership, is working together to produce truly world-class products,” said Mr Owen.
“The Ty Unnos concept is one of the fruits of this collaboration and has the potential to greatly assist the [Welsh] Assembly as it pursues a more sustainable future for Wales.”
Plans have already been drawn up to create a £100,000 educational environmental resource centre built from the system in Ebbw Vale.
