The building industry will not change its main focus from brick and block construction to wood until consumers start demanding timber frame.
This was the message from John Park, UK consultant to the Canadian Council of Forest Industries, manager of the Quebec Wood Export Bureau and UK consultant to the Maritime Wood Bureau, speaking at the Plywood Club of London earlier this month.
He said: ‘Even though they [consumers] may have no problem with timber frame themselves, in many cases the fear is that when they come to resell, no-one will want to buy. Developers have too little knowledge of the system and little confidence in wood. They sell all they build with blockwork walls, why should they change?’
Mr Park called for more co-operation, collaboration and teamwork within the timber industry to overcome the obstacles and promote the benefits of wood.
