TTJ: How did STA’s timber construction membership cope with the pandemic?
Andrew Carpenter: Until the Covid-19 outbreak, the structural timber industry was experiencing increasing demand, generated by growing interest in more sustainable construction systems. Broadly speaking housebuilders and the construction sector made the decision to pause activity at the end of March to ensure social distancing measures could be implemented – as a result, so too did their supply chain. Most reopened gradually during May, except in Scotland where this was delayed until July.
TTJ: Has the UK timber construction sector’s capacity been reduced by the crisis and, if so, how long will it take to recover?
AC: It’s clear that both a ‘green recovery’ and stabilising a more resilient economy are at the forefront of government statements and plans. It’s too early to talk about capacity reductions, it will depend on confidence levels in the market and commitment to investing in new construction and housing projects going forward. To better understand the effect of Covid-19 on the timber supply chain, the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) and partner associations, including the STA, surveyed members between April 27 and May 6. Fifty-four per cent of respondents across all organisations said they could return to full operations immediately quarantine conditions were lifted, and 31% within a month.
TTJ: What is the STA’s view of the government’s commitment to ‘build, build, build’? Are you confident this is more than a sound bite and that the government will back words with action?
AC: We welcome the announcement that development projects due to deliver more than 70,000 homes have been selected to receive a share of £1.3bn in funding as part of the government’s response to the post- Covid economic crisis.
It’s great to see it is aligned with all progressive economies in recognising the significance of the construction industry in economic recovery. This has also been confirmed in the industry meetings I’ve attended with housing minister Chris Pincher and construction minister, Nadhim Zahawi.
The Construction Leadership Council and government have both also stated that they do not want to return to the industry we left behind and that Net Zero construction approaches must be front and centre of the ‘Roadmap to Green Recovery’. This will favour the use of more structural timber systems throughout construction.
The need to change the culture of construction was also emphasised by Mark Farmer in a recent comment to The Times. He said: “The industry is dominated by cheapest tendering, which creates a race to the bottom. We need to urgently change how we deliver new buildings or we’re just piling up problems for the future.”
TTJ: What action has the STA taken recently to communicate to government how timber construction can help deliver the volumes and type of buildings the UK needs?
AC: The STA has been lobbying government for several years about our ability to increase capacity. In previous discussions with ministers we’ve made it clear our sector can deliver in excess of 100,000 units per year and take this to 150,000 homes if a guaranteed pipeline of work is provided to support additional investment.
TTJ: Do you think government will reduce the height restriction for use of combustible materials in and on walls of new buildings from 18m to 11m as a Post-Grenfell response – and what impact will that have on the timber building sector and its capacity to increase its share of UK construction?
AC: The received wisdom, based on the way the consultation was phrased, implied that the ban would be applied. However, with the weight of resistance from many influential quarters such as RIBA, CIC and CPA, supported by key environmental commentators, this now seems less certain.
TTJ: Is it the STA’s position that it would ideally like to see the existing ban on use of combustible materials in walls of buildings above 18m reversed, given that in many parts of the world timber-based buildings are getting bigger, taller and more ambitious in their design?
AC: Height restrictions on the use of combustible materials is the wrong matrix. Building safety should be assessed based on design and competency of the supply chain, supported by evidence-based information. This is the approach taken outside the UK where buildings in excess of 18m are being commissioned and built using structural timber systems and solutions.
Blanket banning of products does not address the post-Grenfell Hackitt Review findings for more accountability and responsibility of how buildings are constructed. Poor design results in inferior, potentially unsafe buildings – regardless of the technology involved.
TTJ: If any sort of height restriction is retained long-term, do you think there’s a risk that the building sector and specifiers will become more risk averse to using timber generally?
AC: The government’s response to climate change has been to set net zero carbon targets by 2050, but if the most sustainable and replenishable of all building products is banned, it’s difficult to see how these targets will ever be met. Any restriction will put limitations on innovation, however, I feel designers and specifiers are now well versed in what structural timber solutions are available, what they can achieve and the added environmental benefits they offer.
TTJ: What developments have there been recently in STA strategies to support and develop timber building performance, quality and safety?
AC: The STA has reorganised its management structure to take into account the huge increase in membership and interest from the UK construction sector. We now have four steering groups looking at sustainability, quality, fire safety and market development. All these groups point towards our STA Assure Scheme, which gives confidence to clients and stakeholders in their use of structural timber systems.
TTJ: Have there been recent developments in STA training activities and resources?
AC: STA Assure now goes beyond factory process controls and includes auditing against Site Safe procedures – so it is an end-to-end quality assurance management process, supported by our competency training schemes. With the recent Building Safety Bill confirming the industry priority of quality and compliance, our ongoing emphasis is to work with erectors and installers via our Timber Frame Competency Scheme. The objective is to get more erector/ installer companies embedded within it.
TTJ: Obviously the next big challenge for UK industry generally is Brexit. are there concerns about how this might impact materials and product availability and cost?
AC: We don’t foresee any issues with the supply of materials into the UK, however, at this early stage we can only speculate on what the impact will be on all imported goods, with the added burden of administration resulting from Brexit.
TTJ: What has the STA been doing in terms of promoting and communicating the benefits of timber building more widely?
AC: We’re working closely with Wood for Good and Swedish Wood in supporting the recently launched Wood CO2ts Less campaign. This united approach, which is also supported by Confor and the Timber Trade Federation, demonstrates our sector can be a joined-up force.
In addition, the CTI recently arranged a virtual roundtable event in association with Building Magazine. The objective was to demonstrate how timber is helping construction get back on track following lockdown. Speakers highlighted the role timber has to play in our recovery and offered a comparative view of the approach France is taking, having recently introduced a requirement for public buildings to be 50% timber.
We are also about to start targeted evidence-based proactive marketing to educate key stakeholders, clients and members on the benefits of structural timber solutions.
TTJ: Do you remain optimistic for the future of timber-based building in the UK?
AC: Absolutely yes! The global move towards net zero carbon targets supported by evidence-based initiatives, such as our extensive fire in use testing research, will influence perceptions and create a positive climate for change. The use of more timber throughout construction is inevitable. We are on the cusp of the biggest opportunity for the whole of the timber sector in construction.
