The Irish government is to commission a special study into whether timber frame houses will help meet the country’s growing demand for housing.
Ministers believe 500,000 new homes will be needed within the next 10 years but fear brick-and-block’s hold on the market may hinder the introduction of a more accelerated rate of housebuilding. Currently only 12% of new homes are built using timber frame methods.
Housing minister Robert Molloy believes timber frame would speed up housebuilding in the republic. ‘This form of construction could make a significant contribution to the achievement of the overall national housing plan over the coming years,’ he said.
The study, which will provide an independent analysis of the role timber frame could play, is expected to be completed by the middle of 2002.
