The publication of the long-awaited Sustainable Buildings Task Group report offers opportunities but also challenges for the UK timber sector, according to chief executive of the UK Timber Frame Association Bryan Woodley.

Mr Woodley, who represented timber interests as one of the group’s 14 members, said the report was “good news” for the timber sector, particularly as wood is environmentally-friendly, cost effective and energy efficient.

The task force, set up by the government following the Better Buildings Summit in 2003, recommends the creation of a single national code for sustainable building to raise quality standards and reduce unsustainable use of natural recources.

The code would require a 25% energy efficiency improvement in new buildings by 2005, which the government is expected to adopt for all new public sector buildings. The task force also calls on the government to provide necessary funding to implement the Central Point of Expertise on Timber.

Mr Woodley said: “It’s very positive for us. A third of all new social housing is timber frame and with the code we can see that going ever upwards.”

However, he said the timber industry needs to improve chain of custody certification and sustainable timber procurement by reducing the number of certification schemes in existence. And he said there is not sufficient certified timber for the volume building market.

&#8220A third of all new social housing is timber frame and with the new code we can see that going ever upwards”

Bryan Woodley, UKTFA chief executive

“Really what we want is a single over-arching, easily-understood system for the client community. That is the most difficult problem and the one the timber industry has to work on.”

Mr Woodley said he would be discussing the report with others in the industry, including The Timber Trade Federation and the UK Forest Products Association.