The Structural Timber Association has welcomed the launch of the Timber in Construction (TiC) Policy Roadmap, released today by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which sets out a framework for increasing the use of timber in construction.

The eagerly awaited document is the culmination of many months of collaboration between Government and industry, focused on identifying the important steps that need to be taken to encourage wider adoption of timber as a construction material.

Chaired by DEFRA, the TiC working group also includes the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Department for Business and Trade and the Forestry Commission, along with industry representatives from the Structural Timber Association (STA), Timber Development UK (TDUK) and the Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor).

Contributing research and data to help address the impact that timber can have on the reduction of CO₂, the Structural Timber Association has worked alongside the other members of the TiC to identify where barriers exist in the expansion of timber in construction and the solutions that the Government and the wider industry should look to implement. The recommendations are structured around seven key themes – Demand, Supply, Building Safety, Labour and Skills, Carbon, Insurance, and Innovation.

Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association, commented: “The increased use of structural timber presents an opportunity to transition towards a more sustainable and carbon-efficient method of construction. As the only truly renewable and sustainable building resource, and with low embodied carbon, timber is an effective solution to achieving net zero and meeting the requirements of the Future Homes Standard – so we are pleased to see that the Government is prioritising its use.

“We applaud the leadership that has been shown in setting this objective and in the collaborative approach that has been taken with industry during the development of this essential policy roadmap. With solid recommendations now in place, the roadmap will give clarity and reassurances to stakeholders throughout the construction industry, and we look forward to continued collaboration as we take the next steps towards implementation of the recommendations.”

To read the full policy roadmap, please click here.

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