As the old saying goes ‘the only constant in life is change,’ and it’s clear that this process of evolution is well underway within the UK’s house building sector. With more and more house builders switching to structural timber, Brian Skilton Managing Director at Roe Timber Frame, takes a closer look at how businesses of all sizes can make the change.
The house building sector is in the midst of a fundamental transformation, with multiple factors steering the way towards greater use of sustainable building materials. From the pressing commitments of net zero 2050, to the launch of the Structural Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap last year, to the recently elected Government’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years – all roads lead to timber.
Indeed, many of the major house builders have already recognised that we’ve reached a tipping point within the industry, with companies including Vistry, Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Developments, Cala Homes, Avant Homes and – most recently – Bellway Homes, seeing the value in building in offsite timber frame and investing in their own factories or long-term partnerships with timber frame manufacturers.
But change can be a daunting process, particularly for smaller developers and housebuilders that don’t have the resources of the major players. The good news is that this journey is not just for those that own a timber frame factory. By partnering with a reputable structural timber supplier, such as those represented by the STA, smaller developers and SME builders can access the benefits of timber, such as shorter build times, reduced on-site labour costs and, of course, lower embodied carbon.
Currently, STA members have the capacity to deliver 100,000 homes – quickly reaching almost a third of the yearly house building target. However, for many SME businesses timber is a step into the unknown, so it’s about embracing change and realising that a seismic shift in mindset is required. Often the only thing that’s stopping them is uncertainty or a fear of making mistakes, but it requires an open-minded approach to take that initial step.
The key to delivering successful timber projects is in the planning and in early engagement with your timber frame supplier, as that is how you will get all the benefits of foundational design and maximise efficiencies. It’s a completely different approach, that’s much more focused on sequencing and build programming – and that can be hard to adapt to, if you’re used to a traditional way of building which is very linear, with one action leading on to the next.
With offsite construction, everything is planned in advance and has a much more vertical progression. The Gant bar for a timber frame project looks quite different to that of a bricks and mortar build, and the external envelope is no longer a critical path item. You’re not as restricted by weather conditions and materials shortages; if you can’t get bricks, you can still be working on the internal fit out.
The most important aspect is finding a partner that offers a solid technical service and thorough planning, as that’s the clever bit really. A good plan, properly sequenced and properly executed will deliver the required results.
To find out more about working with an STA member please visit: www.structuraltimber.co.uk
Interested in learning more about using structural timber or need details on specific manufacturers? Reach out —we’ll be happy to help.