Timber joins the mainstream

Looking through the entries for this year's Wood Awards - of which Wood for Good is a lead sponsor - it is hard not to be struck by the impact that the timber industry is having on the face of the UK's urban architecture.

First, there is the fact that we received over 300 entries this year at a time when the construction industry - and new building in particular - is flat-lining. This shows how timber is carving itself an ever larger niche in the construction market - with many of the projects achieving BREEAM status, reflecting the quality on offer.

Then there is the range. We are used to seeing growth in traditional sectors like housing - and there are lots of top-class entries ranging from individual dwellings to multi-occupancy apartment blocks - but this year we have seen an explosion across multiple markets. Schools and other education buildings feature strongly, despite the end of the BSF funding, along with public sector developments from leisure centres to healthcare facilities.

The long-list also saw a big push into the private sector, crucial for the continued fortunes of the industry, with hotels, offices and retail outlets all featuring.

In fact, the entry list reflects the very stuff of modern civic centres and the state of the construction market itself. It shows how timber is taking the mainstream and changing the face of our urban centres. The reasons are many, but one factor which is repeated throughout the entries is sustainability. Timber is finally being recognised as a solution for affordable, low-carbon urban development goals.

Indeed, several entries reported that urban planning authorities had waived the obligation toward on-site renewables as they recognised the inherent lowcarbon, sustainable qualities of the timber structure itself, thus making the development cheaper and timber an even more attractive option: the central thrust of our campaign, Wood First! If the Wood Awards is truly an indicator of the state of the market, it would appear the message has taken root and Wood First really is making progress.

The Wood Awards shortlist will be published in August. The Award ceremony will be held in November.

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