The organisation’s first interim market report has shown that the use of timber frame construction has more than doubled since 1999, with 2006’s figures revealing that the sector grew three times faster than masonry methods.

This equates to 51,700 timber frame housing and commercial units being built during 2006, an 8.1% increase on 2005 according to the UKTFA‘s figures.

“When you match our industry figure to the government’s housing starts and official construction output data, it’s clear that timber frame has constantly outperformed the rest of the market in recent years,” said UKTFA chief executive Bryan Woodley.

“The recent huge surge in interest from private housebuilders in low risk, cost-effective ways of building zero carbon homes is also likely to enhance the timber frame industry’s prospects in coming years.”

Mr Woodley added that the timber frame housing sector was expected to grow at twice the rate of the average market, increasing its market share year-on-year until 2009.