New, ambitious plans to increase the use of timber in construction to boost the domestic timber industry, economic growth, rural jobs and housebuilding targets, have been announced by UK Environment Minister Mary Creagh at the Timber in Construction (TiC) Summit in London.
The government has outlined new methods to deliver on its Plan for Change that will help to build 1.5million sustainable and affordable homes and drive further investment into domestic timber and wood-processing supply chains.
Speaking at the TiC Summit, Minister Mary Creagh confirmed the government will recommit to the Timber in Construction Roadmap, which outlines measures to increase the use of timber in the construction sector.
The new Timber in Construction Roadmap outlines more ambitious Government priorities and key actions including:
- Encouraging the use of sustainable, low carbon building materials, and ensuring carbon emissions are considering during the design, construction and use of buildings.
- Fulfilling the Government’s commitment to delivering 1.5m homes this Parliament by using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) including the use of timber, to boost productivity in housebuilding and deliver high quality, energy efficient new homes.
- Creating a circular economy by championing timber’s potential for a clean growth future – supporting the construction sector to use the most sustainable, low carbon materials and construction techniques.
- Accelerating economic growth by creating new and diverse green jobs in the productive forestry and timber sectors, as well as stimulating further investment into domestic timber and wood processing supply chains.
These actions will go alongside recommitting to existing plans such as promoting timber as a construction material, boosting skills and capacity across the supply chain and increasing the supply of sustainable timber products.
“This Government is getting Britain building,” said the Minister.
“Our Plan for Change will build 1.5 million homes this Parliament. Timber will play a vital role benefitting development and nature.”
Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford highlighted the need to increase timber production from homegrown trees and use that timber in buildings to sequester carbon.
“The Minister’s support for the Timber in Construction Roadmap shows the Government’s firm commitment to a growth agenda: growth for forestry, for housing, for low-carbon skills and for the economy,” said Alex Goodfellow, chair of the Confederation of Timber Industries, and CEO of Donaldson Offsite.
“The timber supply chain is a major economic player in the UK, connecting rural and urban environments.”
“As a supply chain we will support the Government to deliver on all of the goals in the Roadmap and help build a more sustainable future.”
