It’s official – timber frame is outstripping all other forms of new house building in the UK.

According to the latest state of the industry survey by the UK Timber Frame Association, the sector grew by a further 7.8% in 2002 to achieve total turnover of £330 million. In volume terms timber frame grew 8.5%, with the number of units completed rising to 31,800, taking its market share of UK-wide new house building to 15.2%. Growth in all other housing construction types for the year was just 4.5%

In the last five years timber frame’s market share has nearly doubled. Housing kit manufacturing capacity has also risen dramatically, growing a further 28% last year.

Currently the timber frame industry is working at about 82% capacity and more production is due to come on stream this year and next.

The industry is making most ground in the social housing sector. Timber frame is being specified by both local authorities and registered social landlords and last year took 30% of this market.

“The uptake of timber frame construction in this sector is important, given the background of government initiatives to boost the social housing sector over the next 15-20 years,” said the UKTFA.

&#8220Timber frame is winning acceptance on an ever widening basis”

UKTFA chief executive Bryan Woodley

Breaking the 2002 market down; timber frame achieved 10% share of new housing in England, 7% in Wales, 4.6% in Northern Ireland and 60% in Scotland.

The growth “hotspots”, said the UKTFA, were Greater London and the south east. Together with Scotland, they now account for 70% of the total UK timber frame market .

UKTFA chief executive Bryan Woodley described the survey findngs as very encouraging. “Timber frame is winning acceptance on an ever widening basis, among developers, builders, specifiers and particularly the social housing market,” he said. “The message is getting through that modern timber frame is a most effective, cost-efficient and environmentally sound method of construction.’