Structural Timber Association Ltd

Structural Timber: Building a Sustainable Future for Housing. The structural timber sector stands ready to meet the challenges of today’s housing demands, with the capacity to double its output to 100,000 homes per year. This positions structural timber as a vital solution in supporting the Government’s ambitious housing pledge, ensuring the delivery of sustainable, high-quality homes at scale. Structural timber construction addresses the need for faster and more efficient building methods and contributes significantly to the creation of low-carbon homes, essential for meeting the UK’s net-zero targets. As a renewable resource, timber offers a greener alternative to conventional building materials, helping reduce the carbon footprint of the housing sector while enhancing construction efficiency. By embracing innovation, and adopting timber as a core material, we can drive meaningful change in how we build. #TimberIndustry #HousingGoals #SustainableConstruction #LowCarbonHomes #Innovation #NetZero

Today, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the Labour budget, recommitting to the government's goal of 1.5 million new homes. With a focus on investment, policy reform, and support for sustainable growth, the plan includes: 🏠 £5 Billion Investment in Housing Over £5 billion will go toward expanding housing availability, including a boost to the Affordable Homes Programme, now at £3.1 billion, to build thousands of new affordable homes. 🏠 Support for Small Housebuilders A £3 billion guarantee program will empower small housebuilders, with major projects like Liverpool Central Docks (2,000 new homes) and targeted funding for growth in Cambridge. 🏠 Enhanced Affordable Housing Policies Strengthened affordable housing policies informed by input from local authorities, social housing providers, and Shelter. 🏠 Right to Buy Discount Adjustments Local authorities will retain full sales receipts from Right to Buy, allowing reinvestment into new housing stock. 🏠 Stability for Social Housing Providers A rental settlement of CPI +1% over the next five years provides social housing providers with the stability needed for sustainable, long-term planning. 🏠 Reinforcing the Planning System Labour’s commitment includes hiring hundreds of new planning officers to streamline development processes and support local growth—helping “get Britain building again.” With this investment and targeted policies, Chancellor Reeves underscores Labour’s dedication to providing safe, secure, and affordable housing for more families across the country. Andrew Carpenter, CEO of the STA commented: “This is welcome news indeed and the structural timber sector is poised to support delivery of these plans. We applaud the focus on social housing, as well as the recognition that planning can be an obstacle in housing growth. The news that the Government will set out to recruit hundreds more planning officers should go a long way to alleviating that issue.   “Overall, this is a good starting point from which the industry can move forwards, but we would urge the Government not to miss the huge opportunity that is presented by aligning house building ambitions with the country’s pressing environmental challenges. With such high targets, achieving this rapid upscaling while also meeting net zero obligations will require a fundamental change in how we build, the materials we use, and the way we attract new people into the construction industry." #structuraltimber #autumnbudget

Upcoming Session: Preventing Moisture Issues in Mass Timber Construction with Dr. Paul Newman.   Dr. Paul Newman, Technical Director at the Structural Timber Association, will present practical, research-backed strategies for minimizing moisture risks in mass timber projects. With over 30 years in timber and construction, including 17 years at Kingspan Group, Dr Newman brings expertise in addressing moisture challenges from initial planning through post-construction. This session is for professionals focused on achieving long-term durability in mass timber structures. It offers valuable insights and practical guidance. Register here: https://bit.ly/4fnfoR5 #MoisturePrevention #BestPractices #MassTimberConstruction #TimberEngineering #MassTimber #ConstructionQuality #StructuralTimber

We are thrilled to be a partner of the upcoming webinar: "Timber: The Ultimate Low Carbon Material" presented by Charlie Law MIEMA, ICIOB, CEnv. As we work towards meeting net zero carbon commitments, understanding timber's role in construction is essential. This session will cover the key principles of assessing timber within a whole life carbon assessment and the circular economy design principles that can be used. Date & Time: 8th November, 13:00 - 14:00 You can register here: https://lnkd.in/e2XnfJXr Constructing Excellence Midlands, Constructing Excellence South West, Constructing Excellence in the North East, LeadersMeets, Timber Development UK

Harnessing Timber to Meet Housing and Sustainability Goals. The construction sector is undergoing a profound transformation, and timber is at the forefront of this shift. Over the past five years, timber frame manufacturers have delivered more than 198k homes in the UK, illustrating the immense potential of timber in driving operational efficiencies and meeting sustainability targets. This achievement not only showcases the scalability of timber construction but highlights its vital role in tackling the pressing challenges of climate change. The environmental advantages are clear. Timber, as a renewable resource, offers significantly lower embodied carbon compared to other building materials. Each timber frame home contributes to a reduction in the sector's carbon footprint while promoting resource efficiency and reducing waste. Moreover, timber construction aligns with the UK's housing goals by offering faster build times and cost-effective solutions—key factors in addressing the nation's housing demand, projected at 300,000 homes annually. #TimberConstruction #SustainableHomes #Innovation #NetZero #HousingTargets #GreenBuildingSolutions #structuraltimber

Paul Newman has been appointed as the Technical Director of the Structural Timber Association (STA); a pivotal role for the association in supporting sustainable construction through the increased use of structural timber across housing, public sector and commercial sectors. Bringing more than 30 years’ of experience within the timber and construction industries to the role – most of which were spent in senior technical and leadership positions – this appointment further strengthens the STA’s strong reputation for technical knowledge and expertise. Speaking on his appointment, Paul said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Structural Timber Association at such a critical time in the industry, when there is a clear opportunity and appetite for significant growth in the use of timber-based methods in construction – most notably within housing, where timber frame has the existing capacity to deliver 100,000 homes per year. I hope that my experience and varied skill set will allow me to make a valuable contribution to our members, enabling early collaboration at the design stage, and through every stage of the supply chain.” Paul’s appointment is further evidence of the STA’s commitment to moving the industry dialogue from ‘why’ to ‘how’ when it comes to building in timber and leading on innovation.

The STA brought together a panel of experts at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to discuss the critical role of structural timber in addressing the UK’s housing challenges. Mike Reader MP (Northampton South) emphasised the government's recognition of timber’s importance in housing solutions, stating, "There are a lot of different build solutions that are going to help us reach 1.5 million homes – and timber solutions are part of them." As we move forward, it's clear that structural timber will play a pivotal role in building sustainable, energy-efficient homes at scale. To learn more about the key insights shared during the event, click here: https://bit.ly/3ZGnIH8 #SustainableConstruction #TimberSolutions #HousingCrisis #FutureOfHousing #CollaborateForChange #TimberFrame #StructuralTimber #Lab24

It was an honour to attend the Structural Timber Awards last night, a remarkable event celebrating the best of what structural timber can offer. Congratulations to all the winners! The 2024 Structural Timber Awards, now in its tenth year, showcased outstanding achievements in the use of the most natural, sustainable and innovative building materials available today. The event highlighted how structural timber is not only delivering excellence in construction but also driving the future of innovative and sustainable development. These projects serve as compelling examples of how our industry is coming together to tackle critical challenges like decarbonisation and housing demands. The importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustainable practices has never been more clear. The Winners: Lowfield Timber Frames Ltd and Mole Architects – GIRTON ALMSHOUSES Webb Yates Engineers, Takero Shimazaki Architects – NIWA HOUSE Beech Architects Limited – ANGLES HOUSE Innovaré Offsite Limited – ST MARY’S CATHOLIC VOLUNTARY ACADEMY – THE UK’S FIRST BIOPHILIC SCHOOL Buckland Timber and SPASE Architects  – SHERBORNE HOUSE Ramboll – GRIMES GRAVES PROJECT Engenuiti, Holmes Miller Architects, KLH UK Limited and Rolton Group – BUNTINGFORD FIRST SCHOOL HLM Architects – SANDHURST BAND PRACTICE FACILITY dRMM – WORKSTACK Engenuiti and Integral Engineering Design – HAILEYBURY SCITECH Haileybury UK – HAILEYBURY SCITECH Foxton Construction – UNUSUAL RIGGING NEW HQ B&K Structures – BEECH COURT PAVILION, ABINGDON SCHOOL Gardiner & Theobald LLP – THE ARBOUR BRENT CROSS WEST New Model Institute of Technology and Engineering – Robert Hairstans OSKOP – GREATFIELDS SCHOOL, DAGENMHAM Arup Associates #TimberForChange #SustainableBuilding #TimberConstruction #NetZero #BuildWithTimber #StructuralTimber

We’re glad the STA had the chance to visit your site (Timber Innovations) and see the impressive work being done with structural timber. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, it was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the durability and adaptability of structural timber construction. The visit provided valuable insights into how timber can perform, rain or shine! Thanks again for for welcoming us.

As the 2024 Structural Timber Awards unfolded, the energy in the room was palpable. This year’s entries showcased the best of what timber can achieve, from groundbreaking projects to visionary leadership across the industry. Celebrating its tenth year, the event was more than an awards ceremony—it stood as a testament to how structural timber is shaping the future of construction in sustainable and impactful ways. #SustainableConstruction #StructuralTimber #InnovationInTimber #NetZero #STAwards2024