Aberdeen-based Stewart Milne Group pulled together 60 leading developers and architects in Scotland on Monday to highlight the impact of new environmental legislation introduced that day which it says is good news for the timber frame industry.
The new Part L of the Building Regulations requires improved energy efficiency in all new buildings. Stewart Milne has worked out that to comply with the new legislation, which will involve new buildings being built with thicker and better insulated walls, the cost of building brick houses in Scotland will rise by £600 while timber frame will rise by just £200.
The legislation comes into force in England on April 1 and Stewart Milne is involved in a similar information exercise to be held in Newcastle on March 14 in conjunction with the BRE.
Hugh McKay, chairman of Stewart Milne Timber Systems, said: ‘The Part L legislation is very good news for the timber frame industry – timber frame construction provides an economical answer to the new conservation of fuel and power legislation.’
He said the industry had been slow to react to the new legislation which has major implications.
‘This seminar aimed to inform customers of what it is all about,’ said Mr McKay.
‘The main focus was that this is the start of a move towards more highly insulated houses and what it does mean is that developers and house designers must work very closely with timber frame manufacturers because the whole thing is now much more related to a whole house rather than just elements.
‘Timber frame in its current structural form is adequate to meet all regulations. There is opportunity to increase the frame dimensions to further enhance energy savings.’
