The Structural Timber Association (STA) has called on the UK housebuilding industry to increase timber construction to 30% of all new homes.
Formerly the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA), the organisation has broadened its definition to become the STA (see article opposite).
Timber currently accounts for only 18% of new homes in England and Wales, but its energy-efficient and naturally-renewable status qualify it for a bigger proportion of the materials used in house building. The STA says it is working on initiatives to bring about this increase and has estimated that over 43,200,000kg of CO2 emissions would be saved in just five years if the industry went down this route.
Reflecting on the situation north of the border, STA chairman Lawrence Young commented: “In Scotland 72% of all new homes are built using timber and the country has already embraced it for the benefits it brings in terms of cost, environment and time saving. The newly emerged STA will lead the way in promoting the wider use of timber across the UK as a whole and believes the industry will support us in achieving a step-change for our sector.”
