Timber frame construction has bucked the trend of decline in the housing market and increased its market share for the ninth consecutive year, according to the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA).
Timber frame was used in just over 22% all of new housing in 2007, according to the Interim Market Report published at the UKTFA AGM. This was despite an overall fall year-on-year in housing starts of 4.4%.
When combined with commercial timber frame construction, the value of the market leapt by 10% from 2006 to 2007 to £601m.
“The timber frame industry in the UK has shown its strength, resilience and maturity in 2007,” said UKTFA chairman Stewart Dalgarno.
“Despite a difficult time for homebuilding and the housing market, timber frame manufacturers, through the aggregation of their own forecasts, clearly believe that the market will continue to grow in 2008 and beyond.”
Mr Dalgarno added the timber frame market would receive a further boost in 2008 from the continued pressure on costs, demand for environmentally friendly materials and the growth in off-site construction.
UKTFA will publish a full market report in the autumn.
