A new manifesto from the timber industries calls for the next Government to unlock a wave of sustainable timber construction.
Published by the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI), an alliance of associations from across the UK timber supply chain including Timber Development UK, the manifesto outlines the quick policy wins which could help support the rapid growth of a low-carbon built environment.
The timber industry in the UK contributes more than £10bn to the economy, is home to more than 51,000 businesses, and directly employs more than 300,000 people in green jobs. A few small policy changes could provide a pathway for rapid growth, according to the Timber in Construction Manifesto.
“Over the past five years, there has been some incredible work by our colleagues from all of the built environment professions to lay the groundwork for a switch to more sustainable forms of construction,” says CTI Chair, Alex Goodfellow.
“The construction industry is ahead of the regulation, with existing capacity and expertise to rapidly scale up low-carbon, high-quality, and safe use of timber in construction – as has long been recommended by the Climate Change Committee – within the right policy framework.”
“With this manifesto we wanted to provide references for the next Government of the key policies – like Part Z, an amendment to the building regulations to include embodied carbon –which they could put in place in their first 100 days to get Britain building.”
“The core policies we included, whether boosting sustainable construction, enabling retrofit, or scaling up housebuilding – are all independently conceived. They focus on providing a level playing field for businesses to compete to build homes, while ensuring the UK can meet its legal commitment to reduce carbon emissions.”
The manifesto’s core policy recommendations are entirely material neutral, but the CTI believes in timber frame construction’s ability to compete.
Other manifesto points include policy calls to support businesses in the timber industry and scale up tree planting, as well as sharing examples of how timber is prepared to provide solutions today.
These includes long standing timber frame solutions, and approaches like Optoppen, adding timber floors to existing buildings, and new sustainable developments, like the Phoenix in Lewes,
CTI is strongly encouraging the industry and anyone interested in a sustainable future to contact their local MP and tell them about the manifesto.
To download a copy of the Timber in Construction Manifesto visit MANIFESTO.
