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AWelcome to the last issue of Structural Timber Magazine for 2024. We wrap the year up with a selection of winning projects from the Structural Timber Awards 2024 plus a reminder of what was voted the Timber Icon of the Decade –Sky’s Believe in Better Building.
s anyone that has attended the Structural Timber Awards will appreciate, the vast amounts of skill and ingenuity on show across all categories reveals an almost endless array of talent when it comes to using timber in design. To celebrate 10 years of the Awards it was felt that a Timber Icon of the Decade was a signpost too good to ignore.
Many people have asked me about what constitutes an icon exactly. Well as I point out later on, icons of any type need to be inspiring, influential and memorable – for a building they need to be viewed as a gamechanger and learning platform – all facets that Sky’s facility holds in abundance.
Ingenuity in timber is not exclusively the domain of architects and engineers. This issue we spoke to Dr Colin Rose, Senior Research Fellow at UCL and Founding Partner of UK CLT about CascadeUp – a glulam and CLT structure which has been created entirely out of waste timber from demolition – and the future potential of products such as cross laminated secondary timber (CLST). Still in
its early days of investigation but by reusing timber from demolition, this alternative to the use of primary timber as a construction material, avoids or delays the need for incineration – releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere – and instead promotes timber as a long-term carbon store for the built environment.
With lots of wider industry and societal talk surrounding carbon capture and net zero targets (PM Keir Starmer’s COP29 ‘promise’ to cut the UK’s carbon emissions by 81% within the next decade is a bold aim) we must lock in as much carbon inside our structures as possible. The hope is that the Government will imminently – and officially – endorse the Timber in Construction Roadmap (set up under Rishi Sunak’s tenure) as an essential pathway to much of these aspirations.
Lots more to read inside… A final thanks to all our contributors, advertisers and supporters for their help this year. It is always appreciated, and the team look forward to working with everybody in 2025.
2025 Timber Trader Schedule: Issue 27: March Issue 28: May Issue 29: August Issue 30: November
2025 Structural Timber Schedule: Issue 38: March Issue 39: July Issue 40: November
Cover: STORA ENSO
24 Decade at the Top Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the Structural Timber Awards 2024 recognised fantastic projects and people from all aspects of the timber sector – here are the winners.
32 Timber on Parade
The Project of the Year and Winner of Winners at the 2024 Structural Timber Awards was the new purpose-built home for Army musicians at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
34 Inspiration and Influence
With 10 years of premium ‘winner of winners’ to choose from.
The Structural Timber Awards Timber Icon of the Decade saw Sky’s Believe in Better Building a clear winner.
40 New Ways to Use Timber
Can ‘waste wood’ be transformed into new mass timber products? A groundbreaking research project aims to prove this is possible and could change the face of timber reuse.
46 OSB: Quietly Successful
Roly Ward, Head of Business Development at MEDITE SMARTPLY
outlines why OSB can improve sound insulation, help deliver acoustic efficiency and a provide a tranquil home.
Industry News
A quick round-up of recent news stories from the timber and construction sectors that you may have missed including: Beattie returns to deliver timberled Passivhaus solutions, Taylor Lane’s closed timber frame panels attain NHBC Accepts accreditation and major UK housebuilder Bellway is set to drive more timber frame homes through Bellway Home Space.
48 Unlocking Timber Potential
Malcolm Thomson, Managing Director at Kirkwood Timber Frame, points out why timber frame construction can deliver low carbon, energy efficient homes at pace.
50 Embracing Change to Meet Housing Targets
Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the STA explains how structural timber can support the new Government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years.
54 Cowley Manor Experimental
Architects De Matos Ryan collaborated with interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon to create a new pavilion building specifying UK grown Douglas fir.
56 Sleek and Sustainable
Sherborne House, an 18th-century Grade I listed building, has been restored as a cultural hub with a spruce glulam frame bringing a contemporary aesthetic in a historic setting.
62 The Timber Switch
Paul Brannen, author of ‘Timber! How wood can help save the world from climate breakdown’ outlines some key steps to pushing timber higher up the policy making agenda in the UK.
Walking the Timber Walk
Katajanokan Laituri, Finland’s largest mass timber building, was constructed using Stora Enso’s Sylva™ range of prefabricated wood-based products, creating a landmark in sustainable architecture.
The building is set in a culturally sensitive part of Helsinki, surrounded by 200-year-old remnants of Finland’s empire era, including churches and cathedrals that need to remain visible to protect the city’s cultural heritage and ensure its architecture stands out to citizens and visitors alike.
As well as planning restrictions affecting the size and shape of the structure, the position of the building on the pier presented another challenge for the architects Anttinen Oiva Arkkitehdit and structural engineering firm Sweco Rakennetekniikka. Their preparations had to be watertight from the basement of the building upwards to protect its structural integrity. Fortunately, the planning was meticulous and the execution just as impressive.
From blueprint to reality
When construction began, project managers at Haahtela Oy had to contend with the congested urban environment of Helsinki, which has a similar population density to Bournemouth. For ensuring the project was conducted with minimal disruption, Stora Enso’s Sylva™ kit of parts was used, which meant that millimetre precise measurements and assembly happened ahead of their arrival on-site. Only 171 just-in-time deliveries were needed to deliver more than 2,000 bespoke load-bearing wooden elements, cutting down on carbon emissions from transport. This meant five times fewer deliveries compared to using concrete, thanks to the lightweight character of wood elements, significantly reducing both logistical complexity and the environmental impact associated with construction.
These elements included 5,940m³ of Sylva™ CLT Walls, Stairs, Floors and Roofs from Stora Enso’s Gruvön Mill in Sweden, 1,690m³ of Sylva™ LVL Beams and Columns from its Varkaus Mill in Finland and 97m³ of exceptionally strong engineered window components, Effex® Dura to support the building’s 700 windows, weighing 210 tonnes.
The use of Sylva™ kit of parts had benefits beyond reduced deliveries. It enabled a level of efficiency that will have those familiar with timings
for UK infrastructure projects left in disbelief – the whole wooden frame of the building, together with prefabricated facade elements, were erected in just seven months, and the entire schedule was accurate within two days.
Antto Kauhanen, Business Development Manager at Stora Enso who worked on the project said: “There is a Sylva™ kit of parts for everything, whether it’s a floor, wall, column or beam. We can provide that solution to contractors, developers, architects and engineers whether they need to build apartment blocks and industrial buildings or hotels and offices.”
The mixed-use building concept means developers do not need to commit to the structure being a hotel or an office for its
Cover Story – Stora Enso
whole lifecycle. In fact, Katajanokan Laituri was designed to allow easy adaptation so that the hotel and office areas can be rearranged according to future commercial needs. This offers unrivalled flexibility for investors and developers, which in the case of Katajanokan Laituri is Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company. Critically, it also cuts down carbon emissions generated by unnecessary demolition if needs change in future.
Sustainable by design
Using wood instead of concrete for the structure resulted in an impressive 35% reduction in upfront carbon emissions. On top of having a lower carbon footprint than concrete, wood also stores carbon. No other commercially available building material can do that. The wooden elements used in the construction captured 6,000tonnes of CO₂ during the trees’ growth and are now storing it in the building for at least the next 100 years.
The biophilic design of the office – aimed to bring the outside in – draws on the natural world to provide power and enhance the design in a sustainable way. From the natural materials and lighting inside to the green roof and solar panels on the rooftop to generate electricity the building is a great example of sustainable architecture. The benefits go beyond the environment at large and have been conceived with the occupants in mind – whether they are the Stora Enso staff working in the office, visitors to the Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4, or members of the public visiting one of the several cafes and restaurants or simply there to admire the architecture.
Nature’s touch
In addition to the sustainability benefits provided by mass timber, it combines with a range of other materials including a plethora of plants, a small forest in the courtyard and gentle lighting inside the Katajanokan Laituri building to promote well-being. The design decisions were taken to help increase
Showcasing the elegance and strength of mass timber engineering with hidden connections and diamond-shaped LVL columns, twice as strong as steel by weight, the entrance highlights the warmth and beauty of sustainable timber architecture.
productivity and reduce stress levels – important features in countries where people may spend up to 90% of their time indoors.
Stora Enso saw this as an especially important example to set in their head office. Kauhanen explained more: “There was a lot of scientific research that went into how the building will affect users and we’ve developed this in a way that increases well-being. I know from my own experience in the building as well as conversations with others who have visited that the air quality is great – it’s easy to breathe, it’s fresh, and it smells good. The surfaces, whether it’s a column or wooden wall, make you want to run your hands along it and experience the smooth finish. All these things may be small factors alone, but they combine to make the building a place where people want to come, and that’s exactly what we want for our office.”
Leading by example
Stora Enso has successfully delivered over 23,000 projects globally, and their head office beautifully encapsulates the mass timber expertise they’ve honed through their extensive experience. It brings together all of Stora Enso’s past achievements, showcasing their outstanding commitment to renewable materials and making the construction industry more sustainable. Kauhanen explained its importance: “We know developers, architects and engineers are driven by a sustainability agenda and we want to show a shift from using traditional materials such as concrete doesn’t have to be a burden. In fact, it opens a range of new possibilities for buildings that bring together the best of people and planet.”
www.storaenso.com/en
ST Awards 2024
Stora Enso made its mark at the 2024 Structural Timber Awards, with the prefabricated Sylva™ kit of parts powering several winning projects. WorkStack, designed by dRMM, took Solid Wood Project of the Year and Architect of the Year. Engenuiti & Integral Engineering Design earned Engineer of the Year for Haileybury SciTech, with Haileybury Independent School named Client of the Year.
“Our prefabricated wood-based products for low-carbon buildings were also essential in several shortlisted projects with our partners B&K Structures and EURBAN Limited. This success truly highlights the growing influence of using sustainable mass timber elements in the UK construction sector,” says Mila Duncheva, Business Development Manager UK, Stora Enso.
TDUK Respond to Budget and Housing Targets
Timber Development UK (TDUK) welcomed the Autumn Budget and the critical investments made into affordable housing, energy efficiency, and planning, all of which are essential to achieve the Government’s target to increase house building to 370,000 homes per year.
TDUK Chief Executive David Hopkins said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement in today’s Budget of additional funding for the Affordable Homes Programme, with social housing having largely flatlined over recent years – particularly amidst an ongoing programme of cladding remediation. The additional £500million allocated for the former, and £1billion of funding into the latter, could provide a crucial boost for the sector and help place the Government on a pathway to begin to meet their housing targets.
“Equally, announced investment into the UK’s existing housing stock to make them more energy efficient, boost local authority planning capacity, build schools and infrastructure, plant trees, reshape right to buy, and reform the apprenticeship levy, are all welcome steps forward from the new Government, and will help define a new era of growth. Each of these initiatives is essential for supporting the UK to overcome the housing and climate crises.
“However, with the Government having promised to deliver 370,000 homes per year, the devil will be in the delivery on whether this Budget is enough to realise this ambition. This target requires house building to more than double in less than five years, even as the construction industry faces skills and capacity issues and must rapidly reduce embodied carbon. It is a shame that the Chancellor did not see fit to tie funding for housing to low carbon materials or low carbon outcomes, such as those from timber construction systems.
“If we are to generate systemic change, we need to encourage and recognise investment into offsite manufacturing, skills for the future,
and low-carbon construction solutions. The timber industry has been a critical driver for the UK across all three of these areas as a proven business solution which offers quicker build times, higher quality homes, and carbon capture and storage. Beyond this Budget, we must see the Government begin to embrace timber in construction.”
To celebrate three years since their official launch, TDUK has just made all 174 of their technical case studies free to download. This includes the very best uses of timber in construction from the past decade. From beautiful schools through to stunning homes, swimming pools, hospitals, retrofits, gridshells, interiors, and community buildings – TDUK’s case study library is an incredibly rich source of timber knowledge. Together they form an essential learning resource for students and professionals alike, and the basis of its monthly webinar series ‘designTimber’ delivered by the architects, engineers and design teams behind each project.
“When we came together three years ago, we did so to connect the supply chain, lead best practice and accelerate a low carbon future,” said TDUK Chief Executive David Hopkins. “We are very proud of our work over the last three years, which has included dozens of new case studies where you can find both technical details and explanations, and key performance data on carbon. Sharing knowledge is crucial, as timber is an essential tool to overcoming the climate and housing crisis in the UK, and we want every architect, engineer and contractor in the UK to know how best to use it.
To download case studies, along with hundreds of other resources available on the TDUK website, simply create a free account. This will connect you into the network. www.timberdevelopment.uk
NEWS IN BRIEF
HALT Doubles Size of Belfast Facility
HALT, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading provider of fire-retardant timber, has announced a multimillion-pound investment into its Belfast facility. The extension is set to double the size of the current facility to 20,000sq ft of manufacturing space. HALT has been awarded several large projects across the UK demonstrating significant business growth and a projected turnover of €6million.
ROCKWOOL Acquires Wetherby Building Systems Ltd
ROCKWOOL Group has acquired Wetherby Building Systems Ltd. The acquisition marks an important milestone in ROCKWOOL’s quest to expand its façade expertise in the UK. Wetherby will become part of the ROCKWOOL Wall Systems organisation under the new designation Wetherby Wall Systems. The company will continue its existing partnerships with developers, customers, and suppliers.
OHRA Expanding UK Sales
OHRA, the European market leader in cantilever racking and a specialist in heavy-duty storage solutions, is expanding its UK sales team to further strengthen its presence in the region. Stephen Dimond has been appointed as Sales Director for the UK and will now oversee customer relationships across the Midlands and Mid and North Wales, operating out of Birmingham.
World’s Tallest Timber Building Grows
The City of Milwaukee has announced the selection of The Neutral Project, LLC as the developer and MGA|Michael Green Architecture as the architect for the Marcus Performing Arts Center redevelopment. This innovative project aims to set a new global benchmark for mass timber construction, potentially featuring the tallest mass timber structure in the world at 55 storeys.
EUDR Extension
On 2 October, the European Commission announced a proposal for an additional 12 months to prepare for the start of application of the EUDR. The postponement of the application date is not yet approved but is expected to pass to give more time for UK and global timber supply chains to prepare for due diligence preparations.
Microsoft builds first ‘datacenters’ with timber
Microsoft is planning to build its first datacenters using CLT in a bid to slash the use of steel and concrete. CLT will be used in two new Microsoft datacenters under construction in northern Virginia and are the latest examples of how the tech giant is working to decarbonise its datacenter and construction operations.
Closing the performance gap to meet thermal targets
Achieve specified thermal performance with stone wool insulation that helps to close the thermal performance gap – supported by independent testing.
The new ROCKWOOL Technical Bulletin details:
• The results of independent thermal testing
• How ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation knits together to form a continuous insulating layer
• How ROCKWOOL products can contribute to improved thermal performance
Dresser Mouldings Rebrands to Latham Timber Manufacturing
James Latham, the UK’s leading independent distributor of timber, panels and decors, has announced the rebrand of their Rochdale-based timber mouldings and cladding specialist, Dresser Mouldings (Dresser) to Latham Timber Manufacturing (LTM).
This move is a key milestone in the James Latham Group’s strategic objective to bring all its subsidiaries in line with the overall family of brands, creating a holistic package that will straddle the distribution services supply chain.
James Latham acquired Dresser in 2019 to meet the rising market demand for machined mouldings and cladding, a trend that has only continued to grow since. As LTM, the business will continue to deliver the same best-in-class services customers have come to expect, whilst benefitting from significant investment provided by the James Latham Group. This has been seen in the major upgrades made to plant equipment, which now possesses the very latest state-of-the-art machinery, increasing capability and efficiency without compromising on finesse.
David Johnson, General Manager at LTM says: “Since James Latham acquired Dresser, they’ve provided incredible support to help enhance the business and broaden both our scope and ambition. Put simply, these experts are deeply rooted in the timber trade, fully understanding the challenges we face and recognising opportunities as they arise. They continue to help us, whether physically or digitally, to evolve our proposition, maintain our appeal, and make serious in-roads into existing and emerging markets.”
James Latham has long been a leader in digital innovation, and to mark its new brand identity, they have introduced a cutting-edge online tool: the James Latham Cladding Visualiser. A powerful new platform, it builds on the success of the distributor’s
award-winning Digital Showroom, providing architects, designers and contractors with an opportunity to see how its cladding portfolio looks in application, ahead of specification.
Developed with long-time design partner, Cyon Agency, the site empowers James Latham’s influencers and purchasers to see a wide array of materials, tones and colours under a variety of lighting conditions on different building types. Featuring leading brands, including Accoya, Shou Sugi Ban, and James Latham’s own multi-award-winning Finish Line collection, users have a near unrivalled scope and freedom to see what the exterior finish of their development will actually look like.
Whilst other cladding visualisers exist, what sets James Latham apart is its use of highdefinition photographic renders of the actual materials, resulting in a true-to-life replica of what each product will look like on a building façade.
The authenticity of the in-person specification journey is another advantage. Many visualisers already on the market
have poor functionality and, as customer experience is at the heart of the James Latham proposition, ensuring that showroom feel, was at the heart of the project. Users have wide-ranging freedom to explore different materials, colourways, and lighting conditions. By creating a user profile, visitors can save their concepts, arrange sample deliveries, and even schedule a video meeting with an LTM cladding expert to discuss their selections.
James Latham’s Timber Director, Andy Duffin says: “The new visualiser is the perfect calling card for LTM, and the services it has to offer. Crucially, it shows how we’re constantly listening to our audience’s requirements and looking for ways to give them exactly what they need to make the most informed choice possible, regardless of time or location. As we continue to grow our share in the facades market, the new identity and cutting-edge visualiser platform positions us to compete for more business, ethically and sustainably.”
www.lathamtimber.co.uk
Lowfield Timber Frames Invest in Hundegger Robotics
Following the unfortunate fire in March this year, the team at Lowfield Timber Frames have rallied to minimise the disruption and are now bigger and better than ever.
The replacement building has been re-planned, and all the machines are up and running more efficiently than ever. By making better use of the space, Lowfield’s now have room to further their capabilities and have ordered their third state-of-the-art CNC controlled Hundegger – the first ROBOT-Compact 650 to be ordered into the UK, arriving in April 2025. Despite the name, the ROBOT-Compact is anything but small. The ROBOT-Compact can handle timber with a cross-section of up to 300x650mm and 12m in length.
“As we look to reduce the amount of embodied carbon associated within our buildings, the ROBOT-Compact will allow us to move away from our reliance on steelwork and consider sustainable timber solutions,” says Darren Jarman from Lowfield Timber Frames. Efficiency is achieved through the proven use of the 6-axis robot unit with an automated tool changer, meaning bigger and better opportunities on the horizon for larger construction projects, but with even better accuracy than before.
Chris Osborne from Hundegger added: “Lowfield Timber Frames are a long-time customer of Hundegger. They have two existing machines – a Speedcut and Turbo drive saw. For the increasing number of structural timber projects, the flexibility and capabilities for the ROBOT Compact to process engineered timbers is a logical addition to Lowfield’s new factory.”
This investment not only represents a recovery from the setback but also positions Lowfield Timber Frames at the forefront of sustainable timber construction technology.
www.hundegger.com
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Lowfield Timber Frames will use the first ROBOT-Compact 650 to be ordered into the UK, arriving in April 2025
Willmott Dixon Secures Forestry England Project
Willmott Dixon is continuing its relationship with Forestry England with a £14.5million project to upgrade its tree nursery near Delamere Forest, Cheshire. It follows a project completed in 2020 that delivered a new timber frame visitor welcome centre, also at Delamere Forest, which has improved the experience for 750,000 people who visit the forest each year.
The new contract for Forestry England, procured via Procurement Hub’s Major Projects Framework, includes a new seed extractory building that will produce seeds for millions of high-quality, climate-resilient trees in the decades ahead. It will be equipped with the best available processing machinery alongside providing expanded areas for cold and dry seed storage that will enable several tonnes of seeds to be stored in the best conditions before germination and planting.
The new facility, due to open in spring 2025, will be the largest in the UK, testing and processing up to four tonnes of tree seeds each year. It will replace Forestry England’s current seed extractory at Alice Holt Forest which was built in 1964. Funding for the upgrades is being made available from the Defra Nature for Climate Fund with Forestry England contributing.
The development will allow Forestry England to process more seed from a greater variety of tree species located in 13 specially planted
orchards and 39 seed stands in the nation’s forests. Focus species include more Douglas fir, western red cedar and Norway spruce because they are expected to grow well and produce high quality timber in England’s future climate conditions.
This will produce a secure supply of highquality tree seed from diverse species over the years ahead to significantly improve availability for UK nurseries and reduce the number of seed imported from overseas. It will benefit the UK forestry sector as a whole and plays a major part in boosting diversity in timber producing tree species. The facility has been sustainably designed to achieve excellent levels of environmental performance and will be net zero carbon in operation.
Imam Sayyed, Forestry England Head of Plant and Seed Supply, said: “This investment marks an exciting next phase in our nursery operation building a state-of-the-art seed extractory. We’re delighted to be working with Willmott Dixon who share our commitment to building sustainably. Forestry England is the leading tree seed supplier to the public and private sector and this investment builds our capacity to deliver high quality seeds in the decades ahead.”
Michael Poole-Sutherland, North West Director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are delighted to be working again with Forestry England in Cheshire and creating a truly sustainable seed processing and nursery
facility. Just as with the Delamere Forest visitor centre we completed in 2020, our experts are prioritising sustainable materials and construction methods. The building will be net zero carbon in operation and built using cross laminated timber (CLT) frame, as a sustainable alternative to steel, concrete and masonry. It will also feature solar PV panels, triple glazing, sustainable drainage solution and benefit from our extensive EnergySynergy performance monitoring process to reduce costs.
“We share Forestry England’s passion for creating employment opportunities and skills in this community. We will create apprenticeships and engage local students through our bespoke Green Skills Academy, combining curriculumenhancing practical, construction-based STEM and sustainability focussed lessons. Our team will be also leading and supporting local community projects, focusing on protecting nature and improving mental and physical wellbeing.”
Andy Peck, Senior Client Relationship Manager, Procurement Hub, added: “It has been a pleasure for Procurement Hub to work with Forestry England. Forestry England are always thinking beyond today, and that is the same approach that Procurement Hub takes in this ever-changing world. We look forward to continuing working together with Forestry England.”
www.willmottdixon.co.uk
Search for New ‘Climate Positive’ Housing Factory
HEMSPAN®, a Cambridgebased construction technology business, has identified three areas in the UK for its new 1,000-home per year manufacturing facility –Cambridgeshire, the South West and Rochford in Essex.
HEMSPAN® has developed its ground-breaking BIOHAUS® building system which enables ‘climate positive’ homes to be
delivered at scale. These homes will go beyond achieving net zero carbon emissions, removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at completion, and provide all the energy required in operation.
“This will be a significant investment and the first of its kind in the UK, helping set a new standard for sustainable development,” said Matthew
STRUCTURAL TIMBER’S TRUSTED FASTENER PARTNER
Belcher, HEMSPAN® founder and CEO. “Wherever we locate, the factory will create around 350 direct jobs and then some 175 indirect jobs in the supply chain.”
BIOHAUS® is an offsite building system with components made in the factory, shipped to site and then erected. It is a whole house bio-based panel system, using hemp as the main material.
“This innovative factory is a significant inward investment which will impact positively on the local economy,” added Belcher. “It will provide employment for local people and will offer valuable skills and apprenticeship opportunities for young people from the local area. Our chosen location would have to include the potential for significant local catalyst housing development. Economies of scale will be achieved with volume which will mean higher performing sustainable homes will cost no more to build than conventional homes do today.”
HEMSPAN® will be working with local schools and colleges to provide skills training opportunities for younger generations. The factory will require a combination of semi-skilled and skilled employees most of which will come from the local area.
www.hemspan.com
Sole UK partners of:
Survey Reveals Gaps in Tree Improvement and Timber Products Understanding
A new survey undertaken by Maelor Forest Nurseries, a member of BSW Group, reveals that 42% of professionals across the forestry industry feel they can’t access the right improved materials for their needs, while a further 28% are unsure. With a combined 70% of the industry not feeling certain they’re able to fulfil their needs, it’s clear that more needs to be done to improve understanding and access to tree improvement.
The survey, which engaged a wide range of key industry stakeholders from woodland owners to forest managers, sought to understand how tree improvement is perceived and valued within the sector. The research also hinted at the need for an authoritative body to provide verified and reliable information on the topic, with many participants revealing they consult vastly different sources to learn about the field’s latest developments. Survey respondents listed a wide range of references, such as charities, nurseries, friends, colleagues, social media and Google.
Not having an authoritative source for information leads to confusion and misconceptions. For example, over a quarter (26%) of respondents had fears that tree improvement makes crops less resilient, when actually the opposite is true. And around one in four (23%) revealed that fears over costs were holding them back – when the improved yield and consistency of improved material actually leads to higher returns for businesses.
This knowledge gap is making a real impact on the wider industry as forest managers and timber manufacturers needlessly miss out on superior products. In fact, the research reveals that a lack of knowledge and data on the benefits of improved material is the most common hesitation people have with
the products. Asked to share the issues that are hindering the uptake of tree improvement, the survey identified several common barriers:
• Lack of knowledge and data on the of benefits of improved material (30%)
• Narrower genetic diversity and its impact on resilience (26%)
• Cost of improved planting stock (23%)
• Lack of availability of improved material across a wide range of species (17%)
• The productive/native dynamic and a perception that policy and regulation does not support planting for productivity (13%)
• On the other hand, respondents acknowledged several important advantages of tree improvement:
• Improved quality, consistency and quantity of timber (69%)
• Resilience to pest, disease and future climate (64%)
• Better establishment, vigour and growth with
commensurate reduction in rotation length (43%)
• Improved financial return and economic sustainability (19%)
Other notable benefits suggested by participants include greater CO₂ capture, increased genetic diversity, and higher security of timber supply. The research suggests that a more authoritative and accessible source of information on tree improvement is needed to help dispel myths and ensure stakeholders are better informed. The lack of clear guidance is contributing to industry hesitation, as forest managers and businesses remain unsure about the potential of improved materials.
Commenting on the research, Andrew Henry, Nursery Director for Maelor Forest Nurseries, said: “As an industry we must do much better at sharing the benefits of the significant improvements made through tree breeding. There is real confusion around cost versus return which is particularly telling
– with some respondents seeing price as a barrier rather than understanding the vast financial returns that improved breeding is continuing to deliver, from better timber quality, higher yields and reduced rotation times.
“As tree improvement across species becomes increasingly important in addressing challenges like climate change, pests, and disease, we need trusted industry bodies to step up and provide clear, verified information to ensure that stakeholders can make informed decisions. The forestry sector needs to advocate much better and share in a more accessible way these great results across the whole industry, investor base and our nations governments. We’re proud of the industry leading and innovative work we’re doing at Maelor to improve the resilience, quality and commercial appeal of the trees we supply for the timber crops that will be used for generations to come.”
www.maelor.co.uk
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NTS Celebrates Three Years of NTSROOF® SUPER-SPAN®
National Timber Systems (NTS) is celebrating three years’ production of NTSROOF® SUPER-SPAN® and installation in 100 homes across the country. The fully panelised all-timber room-in-the-roof system is capable of spanning over 9+ metres using four cassettes and can be constructed in three hours. All the load is spread into the gables via the spandrel panels.
SUPER-SPAN® was the first product to be developed from the NTSROOF® panelised roof system which has been in production since 2015. All NTSROOF products have thermal values
which help housebuilders to comply with Future Homes Standard part L requirements.
Philip Carney, NTS Technical and Innovation Director said: “SUPER-SPAN was originally created at the request of a customer who asked for a larger version of NTSROOF to suit a very large five-bedroom newbuild house. The unique load spreading design gives total flexibility on room layout or allows for a full open plan. It does not require steels beams that need posts and padstones, or structural internal walls.
“SUPER-SPAN still leads the market as the only UK-manufactured all-timber product capable of this span and saves time and money on installation.
As well as a room-in-a-roof for a two and half story house it is the ideal solution for creating a dormer bungalow. The space could be a stunning primary bedroom and bathroom suite, more bedrooms, or a fantastic home office or living area.”
SUPER-SPAN helps to improve health and safety on site as it removes a number of hazards associated with building such a long span structure in a traditional way. The range of NTSROOF solutions – NTSROOF, NTSROOF SUPER-SPAN, NTSROOM, NTSROOF SUPERCHARGED – are all designed with customers in mind to reduce installation time and time spent working at height as part of the NTSROOF ‘Less on Site’ philosophy. It is delivered nationally and can be supplied for the contractor’s team to fit, or as a complete supply with assist package through NTS.
The supply with assist package includes a comprehensive training plan, detailed drawings, RAMS guidance, a dedicated helpline, sitespecific training, and an install plan review. NTSROOM is a combination of NTSROOF with floor cassettes delivered together which can be installed in a day to create a complete room. NTSROOM is also manufactured as a SUPERSPAN version.
www.nationaltimbersystems.co.uk
New CITB Funding for Net Zero, Passivhaus and EnerPHit
If you are a CITB Registered business, contractor, or sub-contractor your local CITB advisor via the new Local Employer Networks scheme can help you access a 70% grant to train, reskill and upskill your workforce in low energy and net zero construction practices.
The new Employers Networks have been set up to make it easier for employers in the construction industry to access training and funding. The training can be in anything that supports construction employers. These could be the trade skills you need right now or something you’ll need in the future and because the Employer Networks help organise it all, you don’t need to complete any paperwork to apply for funding.
“This is a great opportunity for contractors and sub-contractors to upskill their staff at a significantly reduced cost and to learn from
Coaction’s community of trainers – who each brings their long-standing experience and expertise within the low energy and Passivhaus construction industry.” Emma Braun, Head of Training, Coaction Training CIC
Coaction Training CIC offers four industry leading training courses that meet CITB training criteria and are delivered by experienced professionals working at the forefront of Net Zero, energy efficient buildings. Completing Coaction training will provide you with a working knowledge of Passivhaus and EnerPHit standards plus Net Zero and building performance and building physics skills enabling you to confidently deliver quality low energy, resource efficient, healthy buildings across all typologies, in both newbuild and retrofit.
To access this funding opportunity, contact your local CITB advisor to discuss your training requirements. You will need to name Coaction
Training CIC as your preferred training provider along with the training course title(s), date(s) and the names of your employees. If you’re not a CIS levy payer but your sub-contractors are, please pass this information on. By working together, we can upskill the entire industry.
www.coaction.org.uk/about
Paul Newman Appointed STA Technical Director
The Structural Timber Association (STA) has appointed Paul Newman as Technical Director – 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 – the appointment strengthens the STA’s strong reputation for technical knowledge and expertise.
Having completed his education with a PhD from Imperial College and spending a short period of time lecturing at London Guildhall University, Paul joined what is now known as BM TRADA and spent 12 years working on a wide range
of timber-related research and consultancy projects. During that time Paul garnered an extensive knowledge and personal interest in timber frame technology, leading him to his next role, where he spent 17 years working within the timber frame and structural insulated panel businesses of the Kingspan group.
Speaking on his appointment, Paul said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the STA 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. To support in this effort, the STA recently launched the Time for Timber hub – a digital resource of information and advice to those interested in building
in structural timber. Containing guidance on how to plan, design, cost and build in structural timber, the STA is also developing a series of How To guides that will provide practical advice on making the transition to using timber.
www.timefortimber.org www.structuraltimber.co.uk
Beattie Launches with a Renewed Focus on Passivhaus and Net Zero
Beattie is a new design and technology company with over 15 years of expertise in Passivhaus solutions and more than 30 years of experience in construction. Building on the legacy of Beattie Passive, the company has built a strong foundation in sustainable building practices and was the first to develop and patent a complete Passivhaus build system certified by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany.
Founded in 2009, the original Beattie Passive business entered administration in March this year. Employing nearly 50 people at its Norwich manufacturing facility, it had the capacity to build 200 homes per year. Problems stemmed from cashflow gaps from housebuilding project delays, planning system complications and wider macroeconomic conditions.
Beattie is focusing on delivering innovative solutions for the built environment, with a particular emphasis on Passivhaus and net zero construction. Ron Beattie, Managing Director
said: “We believe that the mission to improve housing and promote net zero and Passivhaus is more important now than ever before. This is why, after reflecting and regrouping, we have reintroduced ourselves as Beattie. Our passion for sustainability and high-performance building remains strong, and we are excited to continue helping our clients achieve their environmental goals.”
With a track record of delivering hundreds of Passivhaus homes across the UK, Beattie continues to provide cost-effective, practical solutions for achieving net zero goals without compromising architectural vision. Their new focus is on licensing the Beattie build system while offering technical design and consultancy services. This approach allows clients to meet their sustainability commitments while navigating the complexities of decarbonisation.
Nathan Beattie, Commercial Director of Beattie, added: “We work closely with our clients to deliver pragmatic, tailored Passivhaus and
Warwick University’s School of Engineering is pleased to announce that the CLT-Steel Composite Floors (CSCF), a pioneering project developed in collaboration with WSP and the Forestry Commission, has been honoured with a Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Annual 2024 Award of Excellence for Innovation.
This groundbreaking system, which integrates cross laminated timber (CLT) panels with steel beams, offers a transformative solution to traditional floor systems by enhancing structural efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. The innovation is the result of extensive research and
full-scale testing conducted at the University of Warwick, under the leadership of Professor Stephen J. Hicks. Key benefits of the CLT/Steel composite floors include: enhanced structural efficiency, a codified design method, including establishing a standardised approach for calculating shear connector capacity, reduced environmental impact and is designed for ease of use by employing existing construction techniques, encouraging widespread acceptance.
Professor Hicks’ expertise, particularly in the development of design rules for shear connectors, has been instrumental in the success of the project. Professor Hicks also serves as the Chair of the European
net zero solutions. Our years of experience, combined with a future-focused mindset, allow us to create bespoke approaches that meet the specific needs of each project, ensuring the success of our clients’ sustainability goals.”
www.beattie.io
CTBUH 2024 Award for WSP and Warwick’s Composite Floor
Committee for Standardisation Sub-committee 4 (CEN/TC250/SC4), responsible for the Eurocode 4 design standard for composite steel and concrete structures.
“This innovative system is especially suitable for vertical building extensions, enabling the addition of new floors without increasing the overall structural load. It directly aligns with our sustainability objectives and supports broader environmental goals,” said Professor Hicks.
The project has been generously supported by the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Fund, administered by the Forestry Commission. CLT panels were provided by Hybrid Structures, with steelwork supplied by Severfield UK and ArcelorMittal.
Andrew Woodward, Director and Head of Industry at WSP said: “With steel-framed buildings currently
dominating the multi-storey office market in the UK, the replacement of the metal deck or precast concrete floor slabs with a CSCF system aims to reduce embodied carbon and increase carbon sequestration within the structure. Additionally, the use of sustainably grown British softwood for CLT production aligns with environmental sustainability goals.
“An enhancement of around 40% of the plain steel section is achieved through composite action and the embodied carbon of a CLT/steel composite floor system has around 60% of the carbon of a traditional steel/composite slab floor and only 40% of the mass. In addition, the CLT panels also sequester over 135% of the total embodied carbon of the floor system.”
www.wsp.com
www.warwick.ac.uk
King Charles III Visits Mass Timber Development
During the recent Royal trip to Australia, The Hyne Group welcomed His Majesty King Charles III, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns’ visit to the Homes NSW Cowper Street development to talk about sustainable housing.
The Hyne Group is the Australian subsidiary of James Jones and Sons. The Hyne Group proudly supplied the cross laminated timber (CLT) manufactured at its XLam plant in Wodonga, Victoria, and the glulam, manufactured at its Maryborough plant in Queensland for this social housing development in Glebe, Sydney. XLam in Australia was the first CLT timber manufacturer in the southern hemisphere and remains the largest supplier of CLT to both domestic and NZ markets.
The Homes NSW Cowper Street development is in collaboration with the King’s Trust Australia and once completed, will deliver 75 much needed, sustainable social housing apartments and
terrace houses. Specifically, 2,590m3 of engineered timber has been delivered to the site, which sequesters approximately 1,860 tonnes of carbon. This is the equivalent of 934 fewer cars on the road in a year.
Chair of Hyne Group, Tom Bruce-Jones, said: “We are very proud to have supplied our mass timber solutions to Homes NSW in collaboration with the Kings Trust Australia. As a Group, we actively promote the environmental advantages of structural timber as a renewable, low carbon resource material and we are very grateful that our products were chosen by the NSW Government and Homes NSW to construct this building comprising of 75 units in Sydney. We are absolutely delighted to learn of his Majesty King Charles III, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns’ visit to this development as part of the King’s Australian schedule.”
The timber is entirely locally grown in local pine plantation estates, much of which is owned
by the NSW Government and Responsible Wood certified. The pine trees are approximately 30 years old at the time of harvest before being replanted. Based on this age class and the Australian pine plantation estate, the timber volume supplied for the Cowper Street Development will be regrown in approximately seven hours.
For the CLT, the logs are processed at Hyne Timber’s Tumbarumba sawmill before being transported to the XLam
Deeside Timberframe Opens New Warrington Office
Deeside Timberframe has seen substantial success serving customers across the private housing, commercial, and affordable housing sectors. The new office marks a significant step in the company’s expansion plans and will support the growing demand for timber frame construction across England, driven by increased interest in sustainable and efficient building methods.
The adoption of timber frame has proven instrumental in achieving regulatory compliance and meeting the sustainability standards required across the UK. In response to this growing demand, Deeside Timberframe has invested in new machinery and processes at its manufacturing centres, ensuring the highest quality and efficiency in their production.
Derek Wann, Business Development Director, said: “The opening of the Warrington office is a significant milestone for Deeside Timberframe. We are excited to expand our
presence in England and bring our expertise in timber frame construction to a broader market. Our focus on sustainability and efficiency aligns perfectly with the current needs of the construction industry.”
David Crawford, Managing Director of Deeside Timberframe, added: “This expansion is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. The increasing demand for our products in the English market is a clear indication that timber frame construction is becoming a preferred choice for many. We are committed to continuing our investment in innovative solutions and maintaining our high standards of quality and service.”
Deeside Timberframe also announced two new project wins with CALA Homes, Both private residential developments, they highlight the versatility and efficiency of timber frame solutions in delivering modern, sustainable housing at scale. The first of these projects is CALA Longbanks Green in Dunbar, East Lothian.
plant in Wodonga for secondary manufacturing into CLT panels. For the glulam the logs are processed at our Tuan Mill near Maryborough before being processed at the Maryborough Glulam plant. These manufacturing plants support local, regional jobs and ensure that low carbon, sustainable building products are manufactured in Australia, for Australia.
www.jamesjones.co.uk www.hyne.com.au
This development will feature a contemporary selection of four and five-bedroom detached homes, perfectly positioned to take advantage of Dunbar’s scenic surroundings. A total of 78 homes will be built, utilising offsite-manufactured timber frame kits. The second project is CALA East Millgate Lawns in Winchburgh, another exciting development comprising 113 new homes. This site is unique in that it’s the first phase of CALA’s Winchburgh developments to include three-bedroom homes.
www.deesidetimberframe.com
Premier Forest Products Acquires Bitus UK
Leading UK timber specialist Premier Forest Products has announced its acquisition of the trade and assets of Bitus UK Ltd from Swedish company, Bergs Timber. Bitus UK – formerly known in the trade as Continental Wood Products (CWP) – is an importer and bulk distributor of timber, panels and garden products serving industrial manufacturing, furniture-
making, construction and merchanting sectors.
Premier Forest will take on the operation of Bitus UK’s warehousing and distribution activities at the Baltic Distribution port-side facility based in Creeksea, Essex. Premier Forest has also taken on the Bitus UK sales office in Cirencester, where all members of staff have been retained.
Nigel McKillop, CEO of Bitus UK, will join Premier Forest Products as commercial director, specialising in
softwood and the furniture sector, saying: “The Bitus UK team are delighted to be joining the Premier Forest family. Being a part of such an established and well-respected company provides the platform for us to strengthen, grow and develop a much wider product range to our customers from our Creeksea distribution hub.”
Terry Edgell, CEO and Cofounder at Premier Forest Products, said: “We’re very happy to welcome Bitus UK to the Premier Forest group. The strategic dockside location of the site will enable us to improve operational efficiency by providing a more direct route to our customer base. We plan to expand the range of products distributed from Creeksea to include our whole portfolio, which includes the full range of softwoods, hardwoods and sheet materials, in order to create a onestop-timber-shop for our customers. Acquisitions are a key part of Premier Forest’s strategic growth plan, and
we are continually seeking new opportunities to welcome businesses like Bitus UK to our Group.”
The operational activities of the Premier Forest Products Langley site are re-locating to Creeksea in Essex, to take advantage of the logistical efficiencies of the portside distribution facility. The Langley sales team will continue to work from a location in the local area, supporting customers in the South East region as usual. The acquisition deal was structured and completed with the support of Acuity Law providing legal advice, and Gambit Corporate Finance offered counsel during the acquisition process.
Premier Forest Products is a vertically integrated timber operation engaged in the importation, processing, machining, engineering and wholesale distribution of timber and timber products from its multiple sites in the UK.
www.premierforest.co.uk
New Software Brings Full House 3D Visualisation into Reality
Leading independent timber and construction supplier, the Donaldson Group, has developed a unique 3D house visualisation software tool to help housebuilders market new homes. The fully walkable virtual home selection software, Spec3D, provides everything needed to digitalise entire show homes and manage and sell upgrades in full 3D.
Using cutting-edge technology, the platform gives housebuilders the power to let customers select key elements - such as kitchen units, bathroom tiles and bedroom enhancements – put them together and explore a realistic 3D version of their new home, from any device, at any time. The tool prices items as they’re added, and it has a customer management system that helps sales staff sell their homes easier.
The tool has seen immediate success, and within just nine months, the Spec3D team has signed deals with a number of housebuilders, including construction company, Easy Living Developments for a site in Fife, as well as securing two clients to supply website visualisers for their brands.
TALO is expanding its transformational timber superstructure systems for low rise housing in the UK. Developed in Finland and widely used across the Nordic countries for over 40 years, TALO’s offsite manufacturing solutions can eradicate energy bills for homeowners and residents of social and affordable housing.
TALO specialises in the offsite manufacture and installation of advanced timber superstructures to deliver new low-rise homes for sale, rent and social housing more efficiently. The high level of thermal efficiency of the TALO system removes the need for energy bills and snagging, and at no cost premium for the developer or housing provider.
As part of its expansion in the UK, TALO has just been awarded ICW Endorsed accreditation
The software creation is the result of an intern initiative with Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Saltire Scholars programme. Managing Director of Spec 3D, Euan Gibson Smith, was initially brought on board at the Donaldson Group as an intern, tasked with a project investigating the potential of virtual reality (VR) across the 17 businesses the Group.
Euan explains: “While show homes, samples, plans, and photos of existing developments have their place, some people struggle to see the full picture. This software lets homebuyers really see what their new home will looks like, and all from the comfort of their own home. The reaction so far has been fantastic. Customers are finding that it dramatically decreases sales consultation times; reduces errors with a more streamlined management system; increases average upgrade order values and provides a more enjoyable house buying experience for all. Crucially, it allows housebuilders and developers to showcase all their new homes – and sell them – before they’ve even been built.”
Jacqueline Hutchison, Sales Liaison at Easy Living Developments said: “I couldn’t believe Euan
hadn’t been in one of our houses when he sent the initial models over—it looked exactly like our House Types. The attention to detail was incredible, and it really feels like you are in the home when using the software. This software is going to completely transform how we sell homes and allow customers to easily customise their selections. We can’t wait to fully integrate it with our clients and see the impact and I can already tell it’s going to dramatically enhance the customer experience.”
www.spec3d.co.uk
www.donaldson-group.co.uk
TALO Announces UK Expansion Plans & MMC Accreditation
from ICW Group – one of the country’s largest structural insurance warranty specialists, which serves all major mortgage lenders. This certification follows a robust technical assessment of TALO’s timber superstructure system and its manufacturing processes to meet ICW’s stringent MMC requirements.
The endorsement means that the TALO offsite system is now pre-approved, subject to satisfactory site audits, for use in conjunction with ICW’s structural warranties across multiple housing projects.
Philip Quinn, Director of Surveying Services at ICW, said: “TALO’s commitment to quality is clear, as attested by their comprehensive technical design and robust manufacturing processes. Working with TALO has been refreshing and their approach to sustainability is impressive. We found TALO’s team to be responsive, technically minded and engaging professionals. We are thrilled to be working in partnership together as we look ahead to future MMC projects.”
Leona Wikman, TALO’s Technical Director added: “The accreditation from ICW gives our housebuilding customers the reassurance that
the TALO system meets ICW’s requirements for their structural warranties. We have an exciting project pipeline in place for both housebuilders and social and affordable housing providers. This certification will open the doors to more opportunities in the residential sector, as well as provide our existing customers with independent verification of the consistently high-quality standards we work to. ICW’s MMC team visited our offsite manufacturing centre in Finland as part of the assessment process. The depth of technical knowledge of MMC and competence of their team made the approval process very straightforward.”
TALO is now working towards its first UK offsite manufacturing centre as demand increases for its zero energy housebuilding solutions in the UK. Its timber superstructure system is currently manufactured in Finland for its UK customers. Once production in the first factory nears capacity, there are plans for further manufacturing centres which will be rolled out across the UK to meet customer demand and create local jobs for local housing.
www.talo.co.uk
Following successful trials across the Group in recent years, major UK housebuilder Bellway is targeting an increase in timber frame usage, to around 30% of housing output by 2030. This will partly be delivered through Bellway Home Space, its new proprietary timber frame production facility.
Outlined in the Group’s Preliminary Results published in October, Bellway Home Space is part of the long-term growth
Bellway Home Space Driven by Timber
strategy, to increase the use of sustainably sourced timber frame construction across the Group.
Group Chief Executive, Jason Honeyman (pictured) said: “Timber frame construction offers a proven range of operational, financial and environmental benefits, and we have been expanding its use, on a trial basis, in several Bellway divisions in recent years, in addition to its long-established use in our two Scottish divisions.
“As a modern method of construction (MMC), the use of timber frame in housebuilding is of growing importance in the UK, and the Government is supporting the increased use of MMC as part of its plans to increase the supply of high-quality, sustainable new housing. We expect to generate a range of benefits from the use of timber frame in the years ahead and this has been corroborated from our on-site trials.
“These include faster build speed, reduced waste and improved
construction quality, as offsite manufacturing can drive higher levels of quality control and consistency compared to traditional construction methods. In turn, these build efficiencies should support improvements in the Group’s asset turn, together with strengthening customer care scores. Compared to other mainstream building materials, timber requires minimal processing and has very low relative levels of embodied carbon.”
Bellway Home Space is expected to operate from a 134,000sq ft facility near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Bellway Home Space will have the capability to manufacture open-panel systems, together with pre-insulated closedpanel systems, where both insulation and the inner sheath are assembled within the factory environment, further improving thermal efficiency and reducing on-site waste.
Honeyman continued: “We currently expect to produce our
first homes from the facility in mid2026, with a gradual increase to full capacity of up to 3,000 homes per annum by 2030. All management, manufacturing and materials control will be undertaken by Bellway, ensuring the Group benefits from its overall investment in the factory and machinery, while also providing the opportunity to innovate product and control costs.
“The full benefits of timber frame construction will require some operational changes to the business, including the redesign of our Artisan house-types to accommodate the requirements of timber frame and the Future Homes Standard. We expect this process to complete by the end of calendar year 2025. Overall, we are confident that our investment in timber frame in the years ahead will underpin the delivery of our strategic priorities.”
www.bellway.co.uk
Decade at the Top
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the Structural Timber Awards 2024 recognised fantastic projects and people across the timber sector plus – with a decade under its belt – presented a special one-off ‘Timber Icon of the Decade’ award.
Bringing together a wide range of construction professionals and timber specialists from all four corners of the industry once again, the 2 October at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham, was the venue to celebrate the best the structural timber industry has to offer.
Each year sees an increase in the number of projects entered to give the judging panel to analyse, and the job of choosing the winner is never an easy one. But in 2024, what were those outstanding projects and who were those inspiring individuals the judges picked out?
The ways that timber technology is being employed and the imaginative uses that architects, engineers, product designers and specifiers find for it grows constantly. Timber continues to stand at the centre of success within many sustainable construction projects. Its natural, organic and aesthetic benefits combine with structural and architectural strengths to provide a low carbon and high-performance material. The route to a net zero built environment is complicated but the wider specification of timber is a central part of making this happen.
This year the Structural Timber Awards were hosted by a familiar face in Mark Durden-Smith, who ensured that the celebrations flowed smoothly, were highly entertaining and involved a certain amount of audience participation. With 21 categories, nearly 250 entrants and over 150 companies shortlisted, the judges were set their annual difficult task.
Among the multi-category winners on the night where Angles Architects for Beech House, Haileybury School and the big winner on the night – HLM Architects for the Sandhurst Band Practice Facility – picking up the trophy for Project of the Year alongside the
All the 2024 Structural Timber Awards Winners
The evening always ends with a fun casino and networking for everyone all-important Winner of Winners award. You can read more about this project inside this issue.
The evening ended with the special Timber Icon of the Decade Award. In celebrating 10 years of the Awards, it was chosen from each of the previous year’s winner of winners. The clear choice was Sky’s Believe in Better Building, the educational facility that used mass timber and wider sustainability measures to huge effect. Key members of the project team from Arup Associates and B&K Structures were on hand to accept the Award.
“The ST Awards are imperative to bring the sector together for at least one night a year. It’s very exciting to see an absolute full house tonight. I think that epitomises the position that structural timber now holds in the construction sector.”
Andrew Carpenter, CEO, Structural Timber Association
Speaking on the night, head of the judging panel and Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA), Andrew Carpenter said: “The ST Awards are imperative to bring the sector together for at least one night a year. It’s very exciting to see an absolute full house tonight. I think that epitomises the position that structural timber now holds in the construction sector. The room is full of the entire supply chain, all here to have a good time, all here to collaborate, all here to integrate but most importantly to come together to celebrate the success of this sector.”
Host Mark DurdenSmith ensured that the celebrations flowed smoothly, were highly entertaining and involved a certain amount of audience participation.
The Timber Icon of the Decade was awarded to Arup Associates and B&K Structures for Sky’s Believe in Better Building
Importantly, during the evening over £2,750 was raised for the Lingen Davies Cancer Charity, supporting all those affected by cancer in the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales area. Everyone involved sends huge thanks to all those that contributed.
The Structural Timber Awards will return next year with more surprises and will again spotlight excellence, celebrate expertise in timber technology and showcase the ways it contributes to an attractive, energy efficient and sustainable built environment.
The 2025 Structural Timber Awards will take place on 1 October 2025. The entry platform will be open from February until the entry deadline – 11 July 2025. Remember that the Structural Timber Awards provide one of the most effective platforms to promote brands or companies alongside the best of the best.
For details on sponsorship packages and promotional opportunities for 2025 and to register your interest to enter your projects and people contact: ellie.guest@radar-communications.co.uk
The full list of 2024 winners are:
Architect of the Year
dRMM
WorkStack
Custom & Self Build Project of the Year
Beech Architects
Angles House
Client of the Year
Haileybury Independent School
Haileybury SciTech
Low Energy Project of the Year
Engenuiti, Holmes Miller Architects, KLH UK and Rolton Group
Buntingford First School
Education Project of the Year
Innovaré Offsite
St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy - the UK’s First Biophilic School
Commercial Project of the Year
Buckland Timber and SPASE Architects
Sherborne House
Engineer of the Year
Engenuiti and Integral Engineering
Haileybury SciTech
Contractor of the Year
Foxton Construction
Unusual Rigging New HQ
Project Manager of the Year
Gardiner & Theobald LLP
The Arbour Brent Cross West
Installer of the Year
B&K Structures
Beech Court Pavilion, Abingdon School
Private Housing Project of the Year
Pioneer Award
Professor Robert Hairstans
New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE)
Product Innovation Award
OSKOP
Greatfields School, Dagenham
SIPs Project of the Year
Ecologic SIPs
Golf Links Road
Retail & Leisure Project of the Year
Project of the Year / Winner of Winners
Solid Wood Project of the Year
Arup, dRMM, changebuilding
WorkStack
Timber Frame Project of the Year
Beech Architects
Angles House
Timber Icon of the Decade 2015 Winner of Winners - Arup Associates and B&K Structures Believe in Better Building
Social Housing Project of the Year
HLM Architects Sandhurst Band Practice Facility
Takero Shimazaki Architects, Webb Yates Engineers Niwa House
Ramboll
Grimes Graves Project
Lowfield Timber Frames and Mole Architects Girton Almshouses
Insulation Key to Thermal Efficiency
With ever-present concerns about energy costs, Swedish timber frame specialist Scandia-Hus, is outlining the importance of incorporating high levels of insulation and airtight principles to minimise heating bills.
Established in 1974 as a UK distributor of timber frame kit homes for a Swedish company, Scandia-Hus is celebrating 50 years delivering energy-efficient homes and have now built over 5,000 homes across the UK. It has been working with insulation specialists Actis for some time to maximise thermal efficiency.
The company has used the Actis Hybrid range on all four show properties at its East Grinstead, Sussex HQ, with its latest property, a single storey 1,915sq ft property – The Lodge – fitted with HControl Hybrid, 105mm Hybris and insulating breather membrane BoostR Hybrid in the walls to achieve a U-value of 0.14W/m2K. It also uses HControl Hybrid in the flat roof.
Previous Scandia-Hus show homes have been insulated with a combination of insulating vapour control layer Actis HControl Hybrid and 155mm honeycomb design Actis Hybris in the pitched roof and HControl Hybrid and 105mm Hybris in the walls, to achieve a U-value of 0.14 in the roof and 0.16 in the walls.
A thermal imaging survey carried out a few years ago on its first Actis Hybrid-insulated show home showed an impressive lack of thermal bridging, confirming that Hybrid was the right choice for the bulk of its ongoing projects. That survey used infrared camera technology to clearly identify any heat loss from the building across thermal bridges such as structural timbers, door and window frames. These areas are frequently the weak point in any insulation system – usually because solid insulation products have to be cut to fit – leaving potential for leaks around awkward corners and joins.
The test, carried out with an outside temperature of 8 degrees and an inside temperature of around 21 degrees, involved infrared pictures being taken from both outside and inside. Analysis of the images showed no signs of any defect in the installation and no visible thermal bridging or leakage. It also showed homogenous temperatures over the surface of the walls – with testers concluding that the building was indeed very well insulated. Using traditional insulation products to achieve these results would have resulted in greater wall thickness, large increases in material costs and labour time. Installing the insulation in one phase on site also ensures that the airtightness is not compromised by follow up trades.
Counteracting thermal bridging is a key factor in achieving Part L of the Building Regulations, says Actis UK and Ireland Sales Director Mark Cooper. “If there’s a gap, then there’s likely to be a draught, and warm air can break out through any unplugged gaps, says Mark. “The most usual places where thermal bridging can be found are at angles, where one element, such as
The Lodge is fitted with Actis HControl Hybrid, 105mm Hybris and insulating breather membrane BoostR Hybrid in the walls to achieve a U-value of 0.14W/m2K
Thermal images show no heat leakage from the Actis Hybrid range insulated walls of one of the Scandia-Hus show homes
a wall, joins another, perhaps the eaves. Using solid and inflexible products to insulate a roof full of unusual angles means a greater chance of gaps. But using a flexible, stretchable, forgiving product, such as those in the Actis Hybrid range and two-in-one Eolis HC, the gaps are likely to be eliminated. The edges can then be overlapped and taped together to ensure an airtight seal and a continuous insulation layer.”
Scandia-Hus MD Derek Dawson adds: “All products have been designed to eliminate thermal bridging by helping to ensure an airtight envelope. The range can achieve the highest U-value requirements with a minimal thickness. High performance Hybrid panels also offer the benefit of being simple and quick to cut accurately, minimising wastage and reducing installation time, which can be up to 30% quicker than using alternative methods.
“By incorporating high levels of insulation and adopting airtight principles Scandia-Hus homes achieve exceptional thermal values, which is why we are renowned for our energy-saving properties. It is vitally important to make new homes as airtight as possible. Uncontrolled air migration (in or out) is a significant route for heat loss even in a well-insulated property. High levels of insulation and airtightness are number one on the sustainability priority list and, as the financial and environmental costs of energy continues to rise, we are confident that our methods are compatible with a cleaner and greener future.”
The combination of timber and offsite production with insulation products – which reduce thermal bridging – can help ensure consistent quality control and thus improved thermal efficiency.
www.insulation-actis.com/hybrid-system.html
ACTIS
Structural
Timber on Parade
The Project of the Year and Winner of Winners at the 2024 Structural Timber Awards was the new purpose-built home for Army musicians at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
The building has achieved a Defence
Related Environmental Assessment
Methodology (DREAM)
‘Excellent’ rating
The Band Practice Facility (BPF) has been designed to support 54 Army musicians, offering a modern, sustainable and high-performance acoustic facility for rehearsals, performance and musical collaboration.
Combining new buildings, housing practice and social spaces, and thoughtfully refurbished historic buildings, the facility provides a unique military and educational environment. Located at the heart of Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), the BPF enables the British Army Band to practice as a full ensemble, in smaller groups such as brass quintets and woodwind quartets, or individually, facilitating personal skills development.
The BPF is one of the first within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) estate to incorporate ultra-low carbon cross laminated timber (CLT) and a hybrid widespan steel portal frame. This innovative approach demonstrates the structural and engineering strengths of timber and sets a new standard for sustainable, low-carbon buildings.
Visible grade CLT forms the primary structural elements, while secondary steelwork enhances the CLT capabilities, particularly for the wide-span main hall. The facility’s design philosophy, from concept to completion, has been driven by a commitment to sustainability and historical context. The main hall block is strategically placed adjacent to the Brunei Stables, aligning with the historic Royal Memorial Chapel and
The Old College, enhancing the site’s historic significance. A new link structure connects the main hall to a refurbished historic building that houses support functions.
Sustainability features prominently in the BPF. The building has achieved a Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology (DREAM) ‘Excellent’ rating. To further reduce its carbon footprint, the facility includes air source heat pumps, solar panels, prefabricated containment kits, and programmable lighting systems. These measures ensure energy efficiency and contribute to the building’s low carbon credentials. Social value was integral to the project, with the team engaged with the local community, providing free decoration services to nearby community centres and hosting coffee mornings with veterans to raise awareness about mental health issues.
This commitment to social responsibility underscores the project’s holistic approach to community engagement.
The BPF is an outstanding example of how innovative timber solutions can create a sustainable, low-carbon building. This project not only meets the Army’s current requirements but is also adaptable for future needs embodying our ‘fit-for-future approach and supporting sustainable military construction.
As one of the first within the MOD estate to utilise CLT and a hybrid widespan steel portal frame, the Band Practice Facility is a pioneering project. The understanding of timber
Structural Timber Awards Winner of Winners 2024
“By partnering with HLM’s design team from the outset, we ensured that the project met all criteria for CLT & fire protection. Leveraging timber’s unique properties allowed us to create an innovative, sustainable flagship home for Army musicians.”
Nic Clark, Managing Director, KLH UK
Army musicians. The result is a cutting-edge building that exemplifies the potential of timber in delivering highquality, sustainable, purpose-built facilities.”
As one of the first within the MOD estate to utilise CLT and a hybrid widespan steel portal frame, the Band Practice Facility is a pioneering project technology across the project team and its use in practice has improved the delivery of the project. The Band Practice Facility has supported an understanding of the use of timber technology in the ongoing decarbonisation of Defence buildings across the Crown Estates.
Early engagement with CLT specialist KLH UK’s technical team, fostered an open approach and ensured a knowledgeable and skilled project team, ready to implement timber solutions effectively. Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 ensured full co-ordination among all stakeholders. This advanced digital framework facilitated seamless collaboration, enabling precise planning and execution while minimising errors and discrepancies.
CLT contributed to on-time delivery and cost certainty. CLT’s simplicity in construction, workability on-site, and reduced waste and time requirements facilitated a smoother construction process. Contractors reported enjoying working with CLT due to its straightforward construction process. The clean and tidy site conditions, along with reduced on-site labour and waste, allowed for quicker project delivery, benefitting both contractors and client. The team consistently monitored performance through regular check-ins and feedback loops, ensuring adherence to high-quality standards.
“Working on the Joint Bands School in Sandhurst has been a testament to the successful integration of timber in modern defense and educational architecture,” said Nic Clark, Managing Director, KLH UK. “This collaborative triumph, involving KLH UK, HLM Architects, Engenuiti, Willmott Dixon, and the Defense Infrastructure Organisation, highlights the power of early-stage collaboration.
“By partnering with HLM’s design team from the outset, we ensured that the project met all criteria for CLT and fire protection. Leveraging timber’s unique properties allowed us to create an innovative, sustainable flagship home for
Timber has proven essential in meeting strategic objective of reducing carbon intensity, aligning with our sustainability goals. For HLM Architects the project has been educational regarding fire complexity, acoustic performance, moisture sensitivity, insurance, and security, showcasing timber’s viability and benefits in modern construction.
Reflecting on the achievement, Luke Riggall, Associate at HLM Architects commented: “Winning not just one but two awards, including the ‘Winner of Winners’ Award, is a fantastic recognition of the collaborative effort that went into delivering the Sandhurst Band Practice Facility. It’s an exceptional project that showcases innovative timber design and sustainability, as well as our team’s commitment to delivering spaces that support the unique needs of our clients. This achievement highlights the value of blending modern engineering solutions with heritage and sustainability principles to create a lasting impact.”
The project has been hailed a huge success by all those that have viewed and use the building. “The new band facility at the RMAS is a remarkable asset that will support current and future generations of Army musicians,” says Major Brendan Wood (RLC) Band Representative, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. “The building provides modern, noise-compliant rehearsal and performance space, alongside kitchens and storage facilities. The design includes the latest sustainable construction methods, supporting the Army’s commitment to net-zero targets. This project is an excellent demonstration of the ongoing investment across the Army estate to deliver better working facilities for service personnel.”
www.hlmarchitects.com www.klhuk.com
TIMBER ICONS OF THE DECADE
CELEBRATING A DECADE OF SUCCESS
PREVIOUS WINNER OF WINNERS
2016
Sarah Wigglesworth ArchitectsMellor Primary School
Mellor Primary School is a popular school in the Cheshire village of Mellor and showcased glulam and timber technology in a rural setting. The extension is a ‘tree house’ – a cluster of pitched roof forms set on a deck extending out into the landscape.
AWARDS LAUNCH
2015
2017
2016
2015
Arup Associates and B&K Structures - Believe in Better Building
Under the banner of Believe in Better Buildings (BiBB), Sky’s new educational facility for graduates, apprentices and staff training, reflects the company’s sustainable aspirations with mass timber reigning supreme.
The Macallan Distillery welcomes whisky enthusiasts from all over the world. The contemporary building combines an undulating timber roof with glass and steel and at 207m long, one of the largest timber structures ever built.
2019
2018
2017
B&K Structures & Waugh
Thistleton ArchitectsDalson Works
Dalston Works was the world’s largest CLT building on completion, and a landmark project in the roll out of timber construction in high-density urban housing, across London and beyond.
2019
Blumer-Lehmann, Gilbert Ash & Marks Barfield ArchitectsCambridge Mosque
The first purpose-built mosque in Cambridge is a calm oasis of contemplation within a grove of trees, inspired by an image of the garden of paradise. The vaulted structure is glulam with CLT wall and roof structure.
2020 Heatherwick Studio - St James’s University Hospital in Leeds
Maggie’s Centre forms part of the city’s St James’s University Hospital. The building’s timber structure brings a calming and natural aspect to specialist cancer care surroundings and is one of several around the UK.
2020 2021 2022
2021
Arup - International Quarter, London
At the heart of a 22-acre development the Pavilion provides a gateway between the international quarter and Queen Elizabeth park situated over the Woolwich line tunnels only a timber building would be suitable for.
2023
James Gorst ArchitectsNew Temple Complex
Created for the White Eagle Lodge – a nondenominational multi-faith spiritual group – the new building comprises a temple, library, chapels, meeting spaces, foyer and catering kitchen organised as a series of pavilions around a central planted courtyard.
2022
Ramboll - Clifford’s Tower
York’s historic Clifford’s Tower was radically transformed to incorporate a free-standing timber solution that protects the mid-13th century ruin, carrying a timber viewing deck, new walkways and stairs to give public access to features unseen for over 350 years.
WINNER OF WINNERS
2023 2024
2024
Band Practice FacilitySandhurst
The Band Practice Facility is a new purpose-built home for Army musicians at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, incorporating CLT to deliver exacting Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology (DREAM) ‘Excellent’ rating.
Believe in Better Building
At the Structural Timber Awards, each year a ‘winner of winners’ Award is given to the project with the highest marks across the judge’s scorecards. In celebrating 10 years of the Awards, a Timber Icon of the Decade was chosen from each of the previous winners. The clear choice was Sky’s educational facility that used mass timber to inspirational effect.
For those readers that missed it back in 2015, that year’s winner of winners – and ultimately the Timber Icon of the Decade – was the Believe in Better Building (BiBB). The educational facility was the first building to be completed in a series of three in Sky’s Believe in Better Building project at the site – Sky Central Building and Sky Pavilion were to follow.
Based at the Campus at Osterley, West London – the 3,800sqm development encompassed a three-storey linear building with an additional storey housing a restaurant and a roof terrace. The architect and structural engineer Arup Associates, worked with main contractor Mace, with B&K Structures providing an optimised hybrid structure for the build – comprising a glulam frame with cross laminated timber (CLT) floor, roof and stability walls, together with perimeter wall cassettes.
The main challenge for this build was adhering to strict programme of works to complete the structure on
time, whilst simultaneously minimising disruption to the surrounding areas. The Sky Campus was operational throughout the build and the project itself needed to be complete for Sky’s 25th Anniversary.
The structure was designed to deliver permanent quality, adaptability and long-term energy efficiency, to meet Sky’s developing sustainability objectives. The structure took the form of a glulam frame with visible grade CLT panels providing core stability to the walls and floors, which were to be left largely exposed within the finished structure. The timber cassettes were used to erect the walls, ranged from 0.7m – 2.5m in width to 1.5m – 12.5m in length to accommodate the window arrangement. The connections used were galvanized steel bracketry, with connection timber plugs and covers – boarded to provide fire protection to the connections.
Sky’s own sustainability strategy shaped the building’s philosophy. The targets included a 15% reduction in
The Believe in Better Building is one of the best examples over the last decade of how versatile timber can be in delivering low carbon commercial buildings
You can find out by downloading our new catalogue PLATES AND CONNECTORS FOR TIMBER or attending the course THEORY IN PRACTICE in London
rothoblaas.com
Offering full-service glulam structure solutions, our Devon-based team of designers and engineers support you from concept to completion, helping turn your ideas into reality. To discuss your next project, call us on 01363 891 363 or visit our website at www.bucklandtimber.co.uk
embodied carbon of construction, 27% of recycled content, responsible sourcing of materials through PEFC-certified timber and 80% of key materials by mass manufacture within a given radius, depending on density.
The mass timber frame was able to meet the natural look and feel that Sky required, and timber cassettes were able to offer the low thermal resistance and high airtightness that the structure demanded to meet the challenging design brief. The building also features a green roof with a CLT structure, covered with PV panels and sedum, rainwater harvesting systems, and high efficiency lighting to minimise energy consumption. The careful architectural design resulted in the building exceeding Sky’s targets for operational and embodied carbon reduction, achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ environmental rating, whilst being delivered within the cost of a traditional commercial office building. It was also the first building in the UK to be designed in accordance with the emerging Wellness certification principles.
Arup took the project from inception to site in three months, with completion in just one year. Speaking about the Awards win, Arup’s Tim Snelson said: “The Believe in Better Building was absolutely amazing, it was designed in three months and built in seven months, the team was absolutely outstanding to get that done, pulling in the same
direction showing how creativity, working together as a team, can really drive incredible outcomes.”
Alex Brock, Pre-Construction Manager at B&K Structures, added: “A decade later, we are continuing to see Sky BiBB inspire projects we’re working on, and it remains a reference point for the industry. Across BKS’ 20 years of timber experience, we still look to the Believe in Better Building as one of the best examples of how versatile timber can be and the rapid ease of construction benefits it can bring. Showcasing the visual, sustainable and technical potential of timber throughout, the result is testament to strong collaboration, bold client vision, and an experienced and passionate project team.”
Although impossible to compare ‘like for like’ across all the previous winners, BiBB is an outstanding example of timber design with real visual impact. The specification of timber for a large commercial building from such a highprofile client as Sky can also be viewed as a gamechanger, with the building still being referenced by the architectural, structural engineering and sustainability professions. Icons of any type need to be inspiring, influential and memorable – something that BiBB fulfils at every level.
www.arup.com
www.bkstructures.co.uk/hybrid-solutions
The structure took the form of a glulam frame with visible grade CLT panels providing core stability to the walls and floors, which were to be left largely exposed within the finished structure
Protect Your Workforce With Low Slip Potential Structural Flooring
With slips, trips and falls the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in the UK construction industry, it’s essential to provide workforces with a safe working platform. Scott Wolters, UK Building Product Sales Director at EGGER UK, takes a closer look.
Given that structural flooring is installed early in the construction process, it often serves a secondary use as a working platform for weeks or even months, providing site teams with the means to carry on other works around them. As well as having to withstand daily site traffic and dropped tools or material spillages, the flooring is also likely to be exposed to the elements, posing a potential slip risk for the workforce.
When specifying structural flooring for a job, the focus will often be placed on its durability, performance, cost and sustainability. However, given its secondary use as a working platform, it is evident that housebuilders should also be checking a structural flooring product for its slip potential. EGGER remains the reliable manufacturer of a chipboard-based structural flooring board that is verified as Low Slip
EGGER Protect has achieved the highest class of slip resistance
Low slip, moisture resistant and hard-wearing structural chipboard flooring that can be exposed to the elements for 60 days. Part of the EGGER Advanced Structural Flooring System, EGGER Protect is suitable for new build, refurbishment, renovation and timber frame construction projects. A tongue and groove profile helps ensure a consistent joint, with the boards locking together, providing enhanced structural integrity.
For more information visit to.egger.link/protect
Discover EGGER Protect to.egger.link/protect
Potential in Wet Conditions, in accordance with the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) guidance for assessing the slip resistance of flooring.
EGGER Protect is a high-quality structural flooring board, thermally bonded on both sides to ensure protection from moisture and engineered to withstand tough site conditions. EGGER Protect has also achieved the highest class of slip resistance, with a Pendulum Test Value (PTV) of 40 in wet and 55 in dry conditions – independently tested and verified by a UKAS accredited laboratory. Providing a 60-day safe solution, which can be fitted in light rain conditions, EGGER Protect can significantly minimise the chance of accidents and injuries on-site.
www.egger.com
New Ways to Use Timber
Can ‘waste wood’ be transformed into new mass timber products? A groundbreaking research project aims to prove this is possible and could change the face of timber deconstruction and reuse.
Premiered at the London Design Festival (LDF) in September, CascadeUp is the first building-scale demonstration of a glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure which has been created entirely out of waste timber from demolition.
The CascadeUp pilot is the result of several years of research to rethink how to transform the built environment, and rapidly shift to a circular economy. With the built environment responsible for 30-42% of carbon emissions, over 60% of the UK’s waste, and 50% of all extracted materials, this could have a major impact. Allied to this, the UK produces 4.5 million tonnes of timber waste a year, with two million tonnes from construction and demolition.
The 3.5m high, 2.5m wide and 2m deep timber modular structure was designed by University College London’s Circular Economy Lab and UK CLT to provide a stage to share planet-saving ideas during the LDF. Fully modular and reusable, and designed with disassembly in mind, the structure can be easily upgraded and repurposed, ensuring that no materials are discarded.
The CascadeUp structure was on show at the London Design Festival 2024. Courtesy Digby Oldridge/James Tye/UCL
“We can’t solve the climate crisis without transforming our built environment,” says Dr Colin Rose, architect, Senior Research Fellow at UCL and Founding Partner of UK CLT, who has led on the project. “CascadeUp fully embraces circularity – taking wood which would be chipped and downcycled or sent to the incinerator – and instead remanufacturing it to make a sustainable alternative to highcarbon structural products such as concrete, steel and brick. Taken at scale, this is an approach that can boost local economies and drive new employment in reclamation and manufacturing sectors close to urban areas.”
CascadeUp explores the potential of cross laminated secondary timber (CLST) and glue-laminated secondary timber (glulamST) –
Circular Economy
materials that have a fully traceable, local, and socially fair supply chain. By reusing timber from demolition, this project provides an alternative to the use of primary timber as a construction material, avoids or delays the need for incineration – which releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere – and instead promotes timber as a long-term carbon store within the built environment.
The project is the first of its kind to test this approach to the manufacture of wood-based panels and beams from reused, solid timber with a view to assembly at building-scale. This can provide a way to extend wood’s ability to store carbon over the long-term. Once its structural life has concluded and no further reuse is possible, the timber can still be recycled into panel products (e.g. chipboard or MDF) and only as a last resort, incinerated for energy. This highlights the transformative potential of circular economy principles in the built environment.
The structure – as well as reusing second-hand materials – is modular and reusable. Connections are designed to facilitate future disassembly, upgrade and reuse. Product passports maintain a digital record of key information, stored on Madaster’s platform.
Dr Colin Rose is clear on the way forward with concerns surrounding reclassification and technical specifications of these new timber products, what they are potentially capable of structurally and mechanically, compared to freshly manufactured components. Are they as strong and reliable and how can this be proven? “Strength classes of new wood are based on knowledge of its species and origin,” says Colin. “That’s often hard to ascertain for secondary timber, so while we can measure moisture content and density, new approaches are needed to be able to assess and classify secondary timber.
“The number of times timber used is less important than the loading and environmental conditions it has been subjected to. For instance, fluctuating moisture content through external use can lead to significant strength loss. For softwoods used internally, there is research to show that stiffness
The structure is fully modular, reusable and designed with disassembly in mind.
Courtesy Digby Oldridge/James Tye/ UCL
Dr Colin Rose, Senior Research Fellow, UCL and Founding Partner, UK CLT. Courtesy Digby Oldridge/James Tye/ UCL
and strength can increase over time, and that reductions in strength arise from observable defects, such as nail holes, rather than molecular structure. The impact of those defects, including naturally occurring defects like knots, is lessened through the principle of layering in mass timber.” Across the built environment, there is a lack of information about materials emerging from demolition and deconstruction sites. The need for clearer auditing across all material groups will enable reuse to be properly understood and rather than treating building components as waste they can be adopted as
future resource. As Colin points out, as more experience of secondary timber is gained, building codes and guidance will catch up to provide further confidence to specifiers. UK CLT is in the research and development stage here but is ready to deliver one-off demonstrator projects and is looking for investment to increase its production capacity.
“Our goal is to develop products from secondary materials that can be used just as easily as their primary equivalents,” says Colin. “They should perform in the same way. If architects want an exposed timber structure to look ‘as new’ it
CLST wall panel. Courtesy UCL
Reusing timber from demolition to create CLST glulamST is a groundbreaking development. Courtesy
Gersende Giorgio/UCL
can be planed to a clean surface. But our secondary feedstock also allows us to work with architects to explore mass timber with texture, relief and weathered finishes. In a circular economy, it’s important for designers to think about long-term building adaptability and disassembly. We need to change attitudes so that people think of it not as waste, but as something that can be reused, and establish more of a market and the infrastructure to handle it.”
UK CLT is keen to work on a large-scale demonstrator project, with the goal being to make it simple for architects and engineers to specify reused timber from a centralised reliable location, including the necessary certification. The pilot project has been carried out in partnership with Portakabin, and with the support of a range of other supporting collaborators – including Eurban and Timber Development UK.
“CascadeUp fully embraces circularity – taking wood which would be chipped and downcycled or sent to the incinerator – and instead remanufacturing it to make a sustainable alternative to high-carbon structural products such as concrete, steel and brick.”
Dr Colin Rose, architect, Senior Research Fellow at UCL and Founding Partner of UK CLT
Fireshield Proves Protection
A. Proctor Group’s Fireshield membrane shows that not all reaction to fire Class B membranes are the same.
The building industry received a huge wakeup call post the harrowing incident at Grenfell. All must take responsibility for the health of future occupants, and we hope this ends this ‘race to the bottom’ where the industry searches for the cheapest products to provide bare minimum compliance.
Obviously, fire regulations have been influenced and this is a constantly moving platform of updates. Old fire regulations such as BS 476 and the likes are no longer, if ever, relevant. To say your product is BS 476 compliant, you may as well be saying ‘fish and chips’ in terms of relevance if asked about fire performance.
The regulations now refer to tests of ‘reaction to fire’ rather than fire resistance. There is some logic to this and sets a benchmark of performance. The tests determine a material’s performance on a scale from A1 to F, with A being non-combustible and F being the lowest classification.
This has driven the industry to improve their products where they are to be used in ‘relevant buildings’ which are above 11m. This is admirable, but do specifiers and clients know what it means? Further reading on this subject can be found in an article in the Fire Journal called ‘The rise of Euroclass: Inside the black box of fire testing standardisation.’
In most cases of ‘relevant buildings’, Class B-s3,d0, can be deemed the minimum requirement for building membranes. This is stated in Approved Document B, Regulation 7, where B is the minimum reaction to fire classification. The ‘S’ relates to smoke index 1-3, where 1 is better than 3 and D classifies flaming droplets. This gives stakeholders a good representation of a products reaction to Fire when tested for Reaction to Fire to both EN 11925-2 and BS EN 13501-1. With a few other exceptions, products other than building membranes need to achieve a fire classification of A2-s1,d0 to be used in external wall constructions on these buildings.
Again, this can be seen to be logical but do stakeholders understand what this means? Our earliest learnings can recognise alphabetic order where A is deemed best so better than B and therefore better than C, and so on. It’s that easy, right? However, does this really represent ‘real performance’ in a fire scenario?
A. Proctor Group have a range of membranes that can be used in relevant buildings which include Class A and Class B classifications. One interesting product we supply to our customers is Fireshield. This is a vapour permeable, airtight membrane that has a reaction to Fire classification of Class B-s1,d0. This can be used in buildings over 11m in ‘relevant buildings’, however many specifiers may think that Class A is better?
Testing done by APG at a well-respected University has shown the Fireshield to have very good performance in a modified corner test on a timber frame construction. This test was similar to a Single burning Item test BS EN 13823 (SBI).
Fireshield after the 40-minute test with no breakthrough to the back face of the frame
Tests were carried out on another nonProctor Group vapour permeable Class B-s1, d0 membrane. This showed breakthrough to the back face of timber frame panel in just 6 mins 20s. The tests resulted in the Structural Timber Association (STA) categorising Fireshield as an FR Build External membrane in closed panel systems for assessing separating distances of their buildings. For further details see APG website for ‘Fireshield applications in timber frame during the construction process’ paper.
The Proctor Group Technical department can be contacted for more information, or a regional sales manager would be happy to visit you to discuss your intended application. www.proctorgroup.com
ADDRESSING CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTIVITY CHALLENGES HEAD ON
SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
28 JANUARY 2025
The Construction Productivity Conference will get to the core of an issue which has plagued the construction industry for decades. Taking place on 28 January 2025 in central London, the hard-hitting conference programme looks to address the UK construction ‘productivity puzzle’ head on.
With rising building costs, reducing margins and increasing risk profiles – attempts to improve productivity have proven difficult in a sector too often defined by low profits, aggressive procurement practices, talent shortages and uncertain work pipelines.
Demonstrate your authority and reputation as a business on the cutting edge of the construction sector, by joining a wealth of industry leaders at Construction Productivity Conference 2025.
Positioning your business alongside those at the forefront of innovations in products, processes and people management, the conference is currently offering a variety of exhibitor opportunities.
For more information on the Exhibition & Sponsorship Opportunities still available, contact: ellie.guest@radar-communications.co.uk
Anthony Impey - Be the Business, Jaimie Johnston - Bryden Wood, Hannah Vickers – Mace, Trudy Sully – Mott Macdonald, James Rowbotham - Landsec, Dick Clerkin - Lean Construction Institute, Sam Ward - Laing O’Rourke, Simon Rawlinson - Arcadis, Graham Winch - The Productivity Institute, Martin Plant - McKinsey and Mark Worrall - BBI Services To book your tickets visit:
OSB: Quietly Successful
Roly Ward, Head of Business Development at
MEDITE SMARTPLY
outlines why OSB can improve sound insulation, help deliver acoustic efficiency and a provide a tranquil home.
For many, having peace and quiet in the home is one of life’s little pleasures. More importantly, it’s an essential part of ensuring a comfortable and healthy environment – so much so that a baseline level of noise reduction is a key component of Building Regulations in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
There’s a large body of evidence establishing a link between excessive, unwanted noise and several adverse health conditions. For example, studies have indicated that noise pollution in homes is a leading cause of stress, annoyance and anxiety. Other studies have found that those experiencing long-term ‘noise annoyance’ have higher chances of experiencing depression and anxiety.
The minimum sound insulation standards outlined in the Building Regulations help to mitigate this for occupants. The regulations require that internal residential floors achieve a sound reduction performance of 40dB from airborne sounds, which in theory is enough to dampen the sound leakage from an alarm clock (~80dB) to be around the volume of a refrigerator hum (~40dB).
It’s important to note that these regulations apply to a complete floor system, not just the individual products used. This is because there are various aspects of a subfloor system that can affect noise insulation, from the presence of an isolating void between floor joists to insufficient density of insulation material.
The Building Regulations Approved Document E for England and Wales and the Technical Booklet for Northern Ireland offer a specific example of a timber floor solution that meets the sound insulation performance requirements. This solution includes wood decking panels with a minimum mass of 15kg/ m2, alongside a single layer of plasterboard (with a minimum 10kg/m2 mass per unit) and a 100mm+ thick layer of mineral wool insulation in the cavity.
Alternatives to chipboard
While the Building Regulations Approved Document E highlights the use of timber in floor systems, there can be some shortcomings to some timber-based solutions — namely, the weight, cost-effectiveness and sustainability of chipboard in residential floor systems.
There will be variations in the density of timber panels between manufacturers, but we can put the average weight of a one square
Roly Ward, Head of Business Development, MEDITE SMARTPLY
metre panel of 22mm thick chipboard at approximately 15kg. This weightiness comes from how the chipboard is produced and can make the installation process more laborious for installers.
Fortunately, installers aren’t limited exclusively to the chipboard-based floor system that are commonly used. However, laboratory sound insulation tests are required to demonstrate that other floor systems meet the requirements of the Building Regulations. Oriented strand board (OSB) offers a low-cost and high-performance alternative.
The cross-orientation of wood strands in OSB contributes to the panels’ high versatility and durability. Their density and structural strength mean that they can provide excellent sound absorption and vibration dampening, and the OSB itself can be treated to further enhance these properties.
OSB panels can play a huge role in improving sound insulation levels
“The cross-orientation of wood strands in OSB contributes to the panels’ high versatility and durability. Their density and structural strength mean that they can provide excellent sound absorption and vibration dampening, and the OSB itself can be treated to further enhance these properties.”
Roly Ward, Head of Business Development,
MEDITE SMARTPLY
With the material lending itself to sound-dampening applications, panels can be made thinner and lighter without compromising performance compared to chipboard. For example, MEDITE SMARTPLY recently successfully completed extensive testing with a UKASaccredited laboratory on timber flooring systems for internal residential floors featuring 18mm thick OSB panels.
If we take the average weight of a 600kg/m3 density OSB panel, this will put the weight of an 18mm thick panel at roughly 11kg per one square metre — 30% lighter than chipboard. This makes handling on the construction site and installing easier. The reduced thickness also further reduces the panel cost, on top of OSB’s usual cost-effectiveness.
The recent testing was specifically on systems featuring the SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB panels, with both systems achieving the required airborne sound insulation performance of 40dB. In addition to the sound dampening and airtightness, the SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB system also benefitted from the panel’s enhanced durability and slip resistance due to its high-performance coating.
Sustainability in mind
OSB can also fit comfortably within the sustainability considerations of home construction. Because OSB is made of wood strands, the entirety of the tree is used, and nothing is wasted, reducing the foresting impact of production.
In the case of SMARTPLY OSB, the material is exclusively sourced from sustainably managed and accredited Irish forests. The panels are also manufactured using no added formaldehyde, contributing to healthier environments for dwellers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
With the recent UKAS-accredited testing helping to dispel any misconceptions that OSB is unsuitable for sound-dampening residential floor systems, there are now more options available to build safe, comfortable and quiet homes in line with Building Regulations. Even better, it can be done while ticking off many of an installer’s requirements — another of life’s little pleasures.
https://mdfosb.com/en
Unlocking Timber Potential
Malcolm Thomson, Managing Director at Kirkwood Timber Frame, points out why timber frame construction can deliver low carbon, energy efficient homes at pace.
In Scotland, timber frame has been widespread and generally favoured for over 40 years – with timber structures used in around 90% of all newbuild homes. Comparatively, fewer than one in 10 homes built in England use timber frame. Across the UK, of the circa 190,000 homes built in 2022, around 40,000 were timber framed – with more than half of those situated in Scotland, less than 14,000 in England and just over 3,500 in Northern Ireland and Wales combined. However, figures from the NHBC suggest that this method is growing in popularity across the UK. Market share has increased from 19% in 2015, to 22% in 2021. The report did state that it may be possible to see timber use across the UK grow to around 27% by 2025. This could demonstrate that more developers are starting to see the positives of timber frame.
Based in Aberdeen based, we have seen an increase in demand for our services and timber products in England but has also faced some reticence from people south of the border. It feels this is because many professionals there are used to working in a particular way and have preconceptions about timber products and how they can be utilised.
The construction industry has evolved, and the timber frame sector has adapted with it. We conducted research – through our England based sales team – around the adoption of timber frame and found that much of the
negative feedback focused on challenges people faced decades ago. As products and processes have adapted and improved, these concerns can genuinely be countered.
At a time when net zero targets play a significant part of the planning process, and when the consensus is that we need to deliver homes sustainably and quickly, many in England already see timber as the natural (no pun intended) choice for housebuilders. In addition, with pre-manufactured Values (PMV) needing to be of a certain level to access Homes England funding for affordable housing projects, adopting a precision engineered, sustainable product – that can be assembled quickly and efficiently – can play a huge part in unlocking more development sites.
An aerial shot of a Places for People site at Stratton, Inverness, using Kirkwood Timber Frame’s FastBuild® Closed Panel System, complete with prefitted windows
To coincide with the newly launched Timber in Construction Roadmap supported by DEFRA, it is time for more construction professionals to understand how a transition to structural timber and offsite manufacture can play an essential role in meeting housing demand.
Kirkwood Timber Frame were interested to understand why England lags behind Scotland in the use of timber frame construction. Timber has long been viewed as more expensive. However, most people who say this may not fully understand its additional benefits. These include reduced foundation costs, faster construction times, improved thermal performance, reductions in the number of trades required and the amount of labour needed and lower prelim costs – as just a few examples.
It was also mentioned that timber frame was not suitable for larger structures – and this again is not true. For apartments up to five/six storeys, timber frame is in its element due to how it deals with the disproportionate collapse engineering with which all buildings of height must comply. This also makes it less expensive. Other issues were raised around NHBC warranty and fire safety. Firstly, in fact, the NHBC will warrant a timber frame site in the same way as they would a brick/block site – and will warrant timber frame homes up to seven storeys in height.
On fire safety, the timber frame sector has done more work on this than any other in recent years – through the STA’s Site Safe programme and its 16 Steps to Fire Safety Guide. The process has been written with the support of the HSE and is endorsed by both the HSE and the Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group. According to the STA’s research, there is existing capacity in the established structural timber manufacturing sector to rapidly double timber frame manufacturing output to achieve 100,000 homes per annum – equivalent to 1-in-3 of the 300,000 homes needed each year.
www.kirkwoodtimberframe.co.uk
SOFTWOOD SUPPLIER
Embracing Change to Meet Housing Targets
Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA) explains how structural timber can support the new Government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years.
With all eyes on the new Labour Government to deliver on its housebuilding promises, offsite manufacture and low carbon structural timber has an essential role to play – with the capacity to meet 30% of the Government’s pledge. It’s clear that the dialogue has now shifted from why we need to build more homes to how we should go about it, and the only way to do this is to embrace change.
In fact, during a talk early in her tenure as Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner ascertained that local authorities must consider “how to deliver new homes, not whether to,” and is again calling on Government to recognise that the solution to this question lies in adopting greater use of sustainable building technologies.
To support in this effort, the STA organised a panel discussion at the Labour Party Conference in September, to discuss the role of structural timber in delivering housing targets with industry experts and policy professionals. Alongside myself as STA CEO, the panel included Mike
Timber is central to the Government achieving its private and social housing targets
Reader MP, Northampton South, Branwen Evans from Places for People and was led by Jon Craig, chief political correspondent at Sky News.
Mike Reader MP, 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 to get us to 1.5 million homes – and timber solutions are part of them. We need to make sure planning (law) allows builders to have repeatable products. Because we know in the industry, and we’ve seen in other parts of the public sector specifically, that repeatability drives down cost and enables
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us to innovate especially using products like timber.”
Branwen Evans added: “There are 150,000 children in temporary accommodation, so we need to build fast. We need to get going and get stuff built. We should build the right quality homes. But we shouldn’t do this at the expense of the planet either. It’s really important that we think about what the cost is. I’ve been out to factories where timber panels are being made and you can see it’s really consistent and so you get a really consistent quality product, (and with timber) you can build a lot faster.”
With this increased appetite for timber construction, the STA has launched a new Time for Timber hub, that has been developed to provide the ‘how’ – with guidance on how to plan, design, cost and build in structural timber. As part of the Time for Timber Hub, the STA is also developing a series of ‘How To Guides’ that will provide practical advice on making the transition to building with timber. The guides are structured to provide knowledge and support on a range of key topics in the industry.
The first to be released is the ‘Guide to Commercial Viability’ which provides insight to illustrate and quantify the true commercial benefits of building with a structural timber system. For example, building a home with timber-frame systems can be completed in roughly half the time compared to traditional masonry construction. While masonry typically takes 25-30 weeks to build, timber frame houses are often completed in 13-15 weeks. Additionally, timber frame construction makes
Timber is central to the Government achieving its private and social housing targets
Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive, STA
homes weathertight 6-10 weeks faster, allowing internal work to begin much sooner. For more information about time and resource savings are presented within the guide, making it a go-to for anyone considering or actively using structural timber.
Significant progress has already been made in the housebuilding industry with many of the major housebuilders are already recognising that we’ve reached a tipping point within the industry, with companies including Vistry, Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Developments, Cala Homes and Avant Homes seeing the benefits of building in offsite timber frame and investing in their own facilities. We’re certainly on the right road, and as a sector, we’re making significant progress toward adopting structural timber as a construction material. For the Government to meet the housing targets, this progress needs to speed up, and change be embraced.
www.timefortimber.org www.structuraltimber.co.uk
Timeless Timber
Architects De Matos Ryan collaborated with interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon to create a new pavilion building for Cowley Manor Experimental, specifying UK grown Douglas fir to add an authentic interior flourish.
Sat within 55 acres of Cotswolds countryside, the new, stone clad, internally timber framed pavilion houses five generous guest rooms with a variety of interconnected family suite options. The extension reinstates a refined but striking masonry pavilion on the site of a long lost former Grand Ballroom from 1900. First constructed in 1695, the land was once owned by Edward the Confessor and the property designed by the renowned RA Briggs. It is also widely recognised as the inspiration for Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland.
It was revitalised as a leading country hotel in 1999 in De Matos Ryan’s first significant commission The bedroom pavilion is a unique opportunity for the practice to continue its sensitive design-led development of the estate, described by Historic England as ‘one of England’s best heritage-led development schemes. It shows that with imagination and skill, old buildings can be given a new and positive future’. The pavilion has a clear modern identity distinct from the body of the main house, yet suitably fitting, re-establishing a bookend to the main house and terrace.
Minimising environmental impact is central to all De Matos Ryan projects. This was a key driver in making material choices for the
pavilion. Whilst dressed, carved stone was a relatively straight forward contextual decision externally, the opportunity to reimagine historic timber linings internally presented the conceptual conditions to explore an exceptionally low-carbon typology of both materials brought together.
The internal timber frame structure is sustainably sourced, UK grown douglas fir. It offers the opportunity to engage an elemental constructional methodology that ‘looks like the way it is built’, using standard sizes and traditional carpentry techniques in a modern manner. Double member columns clamp and bolt together about purlins, which then support joist decks. Ends are cut and notched simply to resolve junctions elegantly.
Within the inner douglas fir wall and roof build ups, Magply is employed to create a fire barrier, which is lined internally with an expressed sarking layer of Garnica reinforced maple ply. Subtle distinctions between these timber species are blurred by a tinted Envirograf intumescent treatment, which renders the whole in a calm off-white finish.
Other sustainability measures include the use of airsource heat pumps providing heating and hot water, high levels of insulation and airtightness above building
The new and re-imagined Cowley Manor Experimental has benefited from UK homegrown timber. Courtesy Hufton & Crow/Patrick Locqueneux
regulations, a natural ventilation strategy by means of clerestory windows. In addition, the building supports local biodiversity with a planted sedum flat roof. The physical connection between old and new continues and builds from De Matos Ryan’s previous interventions at Cowley Manor Experimental, where juxtaposition is carefully handled.
The pavilion is read as a secondary detached building volume that is respectful of its host and context. Completed in July 2024, the re-imagined Cowley Manor Experimental continues to embody a timeless contemporary style, as it embarks on an exciting new chapter in its history.
Sherborne House, an 18th-century Grade I listed building, has been restored as a cultural hub with a pavilion extension built with a spruce glulam frame bringing a contemporary aesthetic to win the Commercial Project of the Year at the Structural Timber Awards 2024.
Sherborne House with Medieval, Tudor, and Georgian elements, is renowned for its architectural significance and ties to Sir James Thornhill. After being vacant for over three decades, the Sherborne House Trust initiated a comprehensive plan to restore and transform the landmark into a vibrant cultural hub, featuring a new home for Dorset Visual Arts Trust. The project aimed to preserve the historic building’s charm while incorporating exhibition spaces, function areas, modern mechanical and electrical services, and enhancing the surrounding landscape.
Structural interventions encompassed meticulous historic fabric repairs, sensitive modifications to improve circulation, an elegant glulam pavilion extension, and extensive excavations for a new plantroom basement. This intricate and multifaceted project required seamless collaboration and a strong spirit of co-operation among the design team, contractor, and client. All parties pursued technical excellence, from precise architectural design to meticulously crafted structural solutions.
The glulam extension, constructed with European spruce glulam internally and UK-grown larch glulam externally, now provides a flexible space for art exhibitions, performances, and events, complementing the site’s various uses while sustainably alleviating pressure on the historic fabric of the Grade I listed building. Sustainability was a key focus in the design. Insulation, including naturally breathable hemp for roofs and timber floors,
Glulam’s high strength-to-weight ratio allowed for a spacious, columnfree area ideal for exhibitions and events.
Courtesy Buckland Timber/SPASE Architects
and GLAPOR foamed glass insulation under new limecrete floor slabs, was sensitively introduced to enhance thermal performance.
The use of glulam was driven by aesthetic, practical, and sustainable considerations. The glulam pavilion extension was designed to complement the historic Grade I listed building, with timber’s natural warmth creating sympathetic contrast to the existing structure. Glulam’s versatility created a free-form shape for the event space, which would have been prohibitively expensive or technically challenging with other materials.
Using European spruce glulam internally and UK-grown larch glulam externally significantly reduced the extension’s carbon footprint compared to alternatives like steel or concrete. This approach also aligned with conservation principles by clearly delineating new additions from the original structure, providing a modern, flexible space without putting additional pressure on the historic fabric.
Glulam’s high strength-to-weight ratio allowed for a spacious, column-free area ideal for exhibitions and events, while minimising the load on foundations near the historic building. The glulam frame contributed to the building’s overall energy efficiency, supporting the integration of sustainable technologies. Timber’s inherent properties and the prefabrication possibilities of glulam allowed a faster installation process, minimising disruption to the historic site.
The use of locally sourced larch for external elements further reduces the carbon footprint and supports local industries, enhancing the project’s social value. The prefabrication
possibilities of glulam components led to faster on-site assembly, reducing disruption to the sensitive historic site. Speedy installation is particularly beneficial when working with listed buildings, as minimising impact on the existing structure is crucial – the offsite fabrication also limited on-site cutting and fitting, reducing dust and noise pollution.
By choosing timber the project successfully balanced architectural ambition, structural requirements and sustainability goals. The result is a cost-effective solution serving its new purpose as a cultural hub while respecting historic context, demonstrating the unique advantages timber construction offers in sensitive heritage projects. Glulam’s durability, with its natural resistance to corrosion, promises reduced maintenance costs over the building’s lifetime. The flexibility of the space created by the timber structure also ensures adaptability for future uses, further enhancing its long-term value to the community.
The project exemplified collaborative methods across the timber supply chain, with early engagement playing a crucial role in its success. As glulam specialists, Buckland Timber worked closely with the architect SPASE Architects and structural engineer, Mann Williams from the initial stages to assess the feasibility of the scheme and establish structural layout principles.
The interdisciplinary approach ensured the unique challenges of integrating a modern timber structure with a Grade I listed building were addressed comprehensively. While the client’s primary goal was to create something special for the space, it was the architects who proposed the innovative skewed double pyramid curved roof scheme using glulam. Sherborne House exemplifies exceptional engineering and successfully breathes new life into a heritage structure, employing innovative techniques and technologies while enhancing a historic asset without compromising conservation or sustainability principles.
www.bucklandtimber.co.uk www.spase.co.uk
Get to Grips with Productivity Challenges
With construction productivity levels under scrutiny across the UK, a new conference taking place in 2025 will explore what is slowing the sector down and understand how these challenges can be overcome.
The Construction Productivity Conference will get to the core of an issue which has plagued the construction industry for decades. Taking place on 28 January 2025 in central London, the hard-hitting conference programme looks to address the UK construction ‘productivity puzzle’ head on.
With rising building costs, reducing margins and increasing risk profiles – attempts to improve productivity have proven difficult in a sector too often defined by low profits, aggressive procurement practices, talent shortages and uncertain work pipelines.
But critical to ‘get Britain building again’ the construction sector must significantly increase productivity. According to government statistics, since 1997 the annual rate of improvement has been circa 21% lower than the wider economy. The Construction Productivity Conference will take a forensic look at the issues affecting efficiency and growth rates, focusing on root causes and possible solutions – IT/digital adoption, culture and behaviour, capacity, skills and training, policy and investment, measurement techniques, resource effectiveness, and smart business strategies.
The industry has acknowledged the problem and there are various initiatives designed to drive change. In 2020 the Construction Productivity Taskforce was launched, bringing together clients, contractors, supply chains and consultants to identify and trial new ways of making the sector more productive. This has resulted in the Private Sector Construction Playbook, a measurement framework and guiding principles distilled from best practice and collective experience from leading companies across the sector. But four years on, are these initiatives just ramping up the rhetoric or really driving incremental change? The successes and failures will be interrogated and debated during frank and open discussions at the conference, led by industry leading lights that are successfully challenging the status quo.
Construction Productivity Conference 2025
Closing the Productivity Gap
The government is reliant on the private sector to reach the stretching targets to build at least 300,000 new homes a year across the lifetime of this parliament. This represents a major opportunity for the sector but is the construction industry up to the job?
More recently, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) set the industry the challenge to close the productivity gap between construction and the rest of the UK industries by 2035. The CLC make the case that doing this offer ‘one of the biggest and most easily deliverable opportunities to grow the UK economy’ generating an additional £45billion of added value each year for the wider economy –equivalent of 2% of GDP.
Against this backdrop a recent RICS Productivity Survey found that over one in five respondents from the UK and Ireland construction sector said they never measure productivity. So how can efficiencies be made if output is not assessed? The construction sector needs to sharpen up. Can you imagine managers in the manufacturing sector saying they never measure workflows?
Key Conference Themes
By scrutinising the sum of the parts that have a major impact on productivity or the lack of it, the conference programme will take a deep dive into technological advancements, improving skills and training, streamlining collaboration and regulations, and investing in innovative offsite manufacturing and industrialised construction methods. A co-ordinated approach that addresses these challenges holistically can unlock significant productivity gains, driving long-term success in the industry.
The Need for Speed
The aim of the Construction Productivity Conference is to explore how offsite manufacturing and industrialised construction backed by digital technologies can in practical terms boost effectiveness. The RICS Productivity Survey undoubtedly signals that modern construction methods are very much part of the solution.
There is clearly no ‘silver bullet’ but improving speed and quality of output through offsite construction can significantly increase productivity by shifting much of the work to controlled factory environments where production is constantly measured and scrutinised. Reducing build times by circa 30% and material costs by 20%, taking the construction process offsite offers vast savings in time, costs and mitigates onsite delays caused by weather and labour shortages. But traditional construction practices need to evolve in parallel too if the improvements offered are to be realised.
Analysing Success
The conference will interrogate the issues affecting productivity but most importantly, will also analyse success stories. The UK is increasingly reliant on a narrow group of high-performing companies to drive its productivity growth. The most efficient 10% of companies, dubbed ‘frontier’ businesses by the ONS — produced nearly four times as much output compared with those of average productivity. Scrutinising and understanding these success stories will be right at the top of the Construction Productivity Conference agenda.
Secure Your Place
Taking place on 28 January 2025 in central London, the Construction Productivity Conference pulls no punches and looks to address the ‘productivity puzzle’ head on. Tickets are £245 + VAT which includes access to the conference, pop-up exhibition and networking area, lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
For the full speaker lineup and to secure your place, head to: www.constructionproductivity.co.uk
The Ideal Cutting Edge
The demand for wood-based construction elements in the building industry continues to grow unabated with high-quality tooling solutions for structural timber being of enormous importance.
Increasing demand and the resulting growth in consumption is forcing the British timber construction industry to optimise its manufacturing processes in terms of cost and time. Quality-forming aspects such as appearance, surface finish and glueing ability are increasingly coming into focus. These can only be achieved with resilient and robust tool systems that allow high feed rates, are easy to handle, deliver perfect results and are convincing in terms of ease of maintenance.
Planing is arguably the most important step in woodworking. Here, the shape and material thickness are determined, and surfaces and reference surfaces are created. Leitz has developed a series of high-performance planing tools to help machinists maximise efficiency in production.
The Leitz CentroPlan Planing Cutterhead achieves perfect machining quality due to high concentricity, as its knives are positioned directly in the support body. Featuring a solid cutting edge for long tool life, the tool’s constant diameter results in shorter downtimes and the repeatable knife positioning means that no adjustments are required on the machine. Leitz also developed the MC 33 planer blades to increase productivity due to longer tool life and reduced
sharpening cycles. Thanks to the innovative Marathon coating, the planer blades have a sixfold longer maximum tool life when compared to uncoated HS-planing knives. This can result in as much as an 80% reduction in downtime from tool changes and increased cost savings from less frequent replacements.
Leitz also designs and manufactures high quality profile tooling, Leitz solutions like the ProfilCut Q are designed for dealing with high feed speeds and cutting speeds of up to 120 m/s. Allowing timber producers to maximise their efficiency and economies of scale when machining. These efficient and flexible solutions allow for efficient the use of raw materials, as it enables the quick creation of alternative multiple products like mouldings thanks to its quick knife change system – ideal for manufacturing batches of different profiles. Especially as the knife change can be made on the mounted tool body, further reducing downtime from profile changes. The ProfilCut Q is available with Carbide, Marathon coated or Diamond cutting edges. Making it suitable for most wood-derived materials on the market.
The use of high-quality drill bits is essential for the structural timber industry. The XL twist drill from Leitz was engineered to
combat rising prices surrounding raw materials by meeting the specific requirements and materials used in wood construction, enabling users to save noticeably more time when boring deep holes. Thanks to use of highgrade materials in its construction, the XL twist drill has a 10-times longer tool life than commercially available twist drills. It’s updated geometry also increases positional accuracy on the exit side by 50%.
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Clearly it remains early days for the new Labour government, likewise for the new European Parliament and Commission. However, as each day passes, I become that little bit more concerned that no major governing political figure on either side of the Channel has yet to publicly articulate – since the summer elections – that there will be no end to climate breakdown unless we switch to using a majority of nature-based materials in the built environment. Specifically, much more timber.
My hunch is that the folks in Brussels will articulate first, probably via timber’s number one champion in the EU, the re-elected president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. That she ‘gets it’ is demonstrated in part via her own initiative the four-year-old New European Bauhaus, which aspires to creating a built environment that is sustainable, affordable and beautiful. Additionally, we also have her on record stating, “…we know that the construction sector can even be turned from a carbon source into a carbon sink, if organic building materials like wood… are applied.”
This side of the Channel no such political champion for an increased use of sustainable wood to tackle climate breakdown has emerged – so far. Ed Miliband’s focus is on decarbonising the electricity grid which while clearly important could – worryingly – be achieved successfully without addressing by one iota energy use by the built environment. Hopefully, the new Labour government will be up for the switch to timber for the sake of the climate. If so, what should they do to encourage a greater use of timber in construction? Six specific steps should be taken by the government:
• Implement the 2022 Environmental Audit Committee’s proposal to legislate for mandatory, whole-life carbon assessment of all new buildings, including the amount of stored carbon, as part of the planning permission process
• Set maximum standards for the carbon footprints of newbuilds and their energy use, which can then be tightened over time as we aim for net zero in 2050
The Timber Switch
Paul Brannen, Director of Public Affairs at CE-BOIS and author of ‘Timber! How wood can help save the world from climate breakdown’ outlines some key steps to pushing timber higher up the policy making agenda in the UK.
• Incentivise the use of nature-based materials, such as timber in construction, including insulation: in part by recognising that the storage of carbon in buildings is a climate benefit
• Facilitate education about the use of nature-based materials across the whole of the construction-value chain
• Increase the homegrown sustainable wood supply by increasing commercial forest planting
I would add a caveat at this point: if I were the Labour government, I would want to know categorically that there is enough sustainable timber to facilitate a big shift to timber. Here we need to tread carefully as a glib ‘of course there is’ answer, will rightly receive a mauling from environmentalists, which in turn will undermine political support.
Answering this perfectly legitimate question in a comprehensive and convincing way ended taking up much more space than
“Hopefully, the new Labour government will be up for the switch to timber for the sake of the climate. If so, what should they do to encourage a greater use of timber in construction?”
Paul Brannen, Director of Public Affairs at CE-BOIS
• Implement the last government’s Timber in Construction Roadmap which includes working with industry and academia to identify opportunities and barriers to the use of timber in retrofit and promote best practice and innovation by 2027.
I had expected in my recently published book: ‘Timber! How wood can help save the world from climate breakdown’. This was because the answer comes in multiple parts, including: harvesting closer to the net annual increment, planting more forests, growing more plantations, working towards 10% trees on farms in an agroforestry setting, increasing material efficiency, greater recycling and upcycling of wood, building-on-top with timber, reducing demolition, eventually sourcing timber once again from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine (only when Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukraine ends) and optimising every log via X-ray and scanning at the sawmill.
Labour is right to state that there is no magic money tree. There is however – when it comes to tackling climate breakdown – a magic timber tree. A Labour government should be able to deliver the homes the country desperately needs and at the same time, turn the built environment into a carbon sink rather than a carbon emitter. A win-win for Labour, the country and the climate.
‘Timber! How wood can help save the world from climate breakdown’ was published in June 2024
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