Small housebuilders and the social housing sector are switching on to timber windows, according to new market research.

A report by Surbiton-based Palmer Market Research and the British Woodworking Federation‘s (BWF) own trend monitor reveal that the popularity of uPVC in the social housing sector is waning, while small construction firms are focusing on wood windows.

However, Palmer’s “The market for windows, doors and conservatories in new housing to 2007” study claims uPVC windows have reached their highest market share.

It says uPVC’s share of the window market was 76% in 2002, while softwood windows “continued to decline”. But factory-finished windows now make up 38% of the softwood window market.

Adam Frankling, manager of the BWF’s Timber Window Accreditation Scheme, said he would be “surprised” if plastic windows had continued to grow their market share, saying the BWF believed it was the opposite.

The BWF’s own recently-published market research, by analyst Michael Rugby Associates, reveals that 40% of timber window manufacturers grew sales in the six months between March and August, compared with the previous six months, while 45% stayed the same and 15% experienced a decrease. This means a net 25% of companies grew sales during the period.

He said: “One of the things we have found from our research is timber windows are definitely things people aspire to. There is now a generation of people that have not had timber windows in their homes.”

Mr Frankling said there was “much positiveness” coming from the timber window industry.