Structural Timber Magazine - Issue 41

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PWelcome to the final Structural Timber Magazine of the year and one that is full of rich pickings.

Inside is some serious content from every aspect of the timber supply chain that underlines how flexible and dynamic a material timber can be.

lenty to keep readers from all angles of the timber sector occupied inside, as we have a range of features from some key operators involved with the structural and engineering side of the timber world, plus a big blast of coverage surrounding the wider timber supply chain – much of this you will find in the dedicated and extended ‘Timber Trader’ section towards the back of the publication. We also have a chat with James Jones and SCA Wood UK about the processing and supply of timber in a shifting marketplace.

Many readers will have attended the recent Structural Timber Conference and accompanying Structural Timber Awards and in case you missed out, we have a quick round up of the day’s discussion and a reminder of the 2025 Award winners including a longer look at the popular winner at Copper Beech Passivhaus Plus, a three-storey, timber frame home in Salford that is the North West’s first Passivhaus Plus certified building.

Among the many fantastic buildings outside of the 2025 Awards this issue is a skip

Gary Ramsay | Consultant Editor

through what will undoubtedly be in front of many award judges in 2026 –Timber Square. Peter Fisher, Director at Bennetts Associates, gives us a run through the design aspects of what – currently – by volume, is set to be the UK’s largest CLT commercial development and sport the tallest hybrid frame. Mass timber might not be to your tastes – maybe even a bit like that breaker of all that is good and proper in the world – Marmite. Andy Heyne from Heyne Tillett Steel, picks out some of the key arguments that divide current opinion when faced with mass timber options. Have we become less excited about its specification? Read on inside.

Too much to outline so I’ll just say: stop reading this and get moving into what is a bumper issue. However, a final special end of year thanks to all our contributors, advertisers, and supporters for their help with this issue and throughout 2025. The magazine simply wouldn’t be the same without you. 

Email: gary.ramsay@structuraltimbermagazine.co.uk

We are always looking for the latest industry news, people appointments and project case studies using all types of timber systems and products. For use both in print and online please send them to me at the contact email above.

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The Actis development team is constantly researching new, more sustainable ways of ensuring its products not only offer optimum thermal efficiency but are also created in the most energy efficient way.

26 Timber at Scale – a Day of Positive Discussion

Exploring questions of confidence, collaboration and carbon, the Structural Timber Conference 2025 brought together leading voices across timber and construction for a day reflecting on the industry’s growing maturity.

36 A Model for Future Living

Copper Beech Passivhaus Plus was a multi-category winner at the Structural Timber Awards 2025, with the stylish, timber frame, energy efficient home also hailed as ‘winner of winners.’

Industry News

A quick round-up of some recent news stories from the timber and construction sectors that you may have missed including: TDUK relaunches the Wood Campus learning platform, Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions and Hilti Great Britain aim to raise standards in timber construction, Accsys announces its ‘Accoya Gives Back’ donation programme and Willmott Dixon commissions CLT/cavity barrier fire safety tests.

50 Has Mass Timber Become Marmite?

Andy Heyne, Founding Director at Heyne Tillett Steel, picks out some of the key arguments that divide current opinion most when it comes to engineered timber specification.

52 Embedding Supply Chain Confidence

We caught up SCA Wood UK’s Managing Director Camilla Fish, to find out more about timber supply and UK market dynamics.

54 Thinking Inside the Square

Wrapped and Ready for Energy Efficient Buildings

The Actis development team is constantly researching new, more sustainable ways of ensuring its products not only offer optimum thermal efficiency but are also created in the most energy efficient way.

Innovation is at the heart of Actis’ sustainable insulation products and membranes, and has been developing insulation products since its inception, as a pioneer of multifoils, in 1980. The revolutionary Hybrid range transformed the insulation sector when it was launched just over a decade ago, and Actis added a unique two-in-one reflective insulation with integrated vapour barrier, Eolis HC, to its offering in 2023.

The revolutionary Triplex technology at the core of Eolis HC is created from several layers of reflective films, each separated by a thin layer of fibre, trapping air between each section, thus boosting thermal performance. The design, which enables builders to reduce the number of steps required to achieve an impressive U-value, means installation is twice as quick as traditional alternatives. As well as keeping warmth in, Eolis HC can keep homes cool in the summer, with its films reflecting 95% of infrared radiation.

A new campaign

Actis’ Inspired by Nature campaign, launched earlier this year, illustrates how the insulation specialist takes its inspiration from the natural world when creating the new technologies used in its products. The bee and beehive imagery used in the visuals underline how it was the structure of the honeycomb which inspired the unique design of both Hybris, the flagship product in the Hybrid range, and Eolis HC. The air gaps in the design trap air to boost thermal performance and mean less material needs to be used to ensure maximum thermal efficiency.

The natural imagery also reflects how Actis products are good for the planet and make life more comfortable for installers and homeowners. So eco-friendly are its products that Hybris has been recognised as

Europe’s only Cradle to Cradle Certified® reflective insulation. The certification means it meets stringent sustainability criteria, and is recognised for its product circularity, material health, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship and social fairness. Their design means they offer better thermal efficiency than thicker, traditional alternatives, and the fact that they are thin, and light means more U-value can be carried per lorryload, reducing fuel consumption during transportation.

Both products produce no dust or fibres and are guaranteed nonirritant, making installation much more comfortable as there is no need for respiratory protection. Rated A+ for their environmental impact, they also have a BREEAM exemplary level of VOC release for indoor air quality and contain no harmful chemicals. Both are made from recycled and 100% recyclable materials and are energy, water and resource efficient.

Understanding sustainability credentials

Actis has created a 160-page document outlining details of the sustainability credentials of its products and manufacturing processes to highlight the steps it is taking to reduce the industry’s impact on the

environment. The PDF brochure, which has

office in France, for the French non-residential market, looks in minute detail at each environmentally friendly element of the production and environmental benefits of its honeycomb-structured Hybris insulation.

The company is using its ‘doing more with less’ policy to lead the way in minimising the negative impact of construction materials manufactured across the continent and is encouraging other companies in the construction industry to join them. The brochure examines Actis’ zero-waste policy, which sees all off-cuts recovered, crushed and reintroduced into the manufacturing process and the 100% recyclability of all its products. It explains how minimal water is used during its production and how the lightness and compactness of the air-filled insulation mean more thermal capacity can be carried per lorryload than traditional solid insulation or fibreglass.

These pluses are in addition to the ability of its products not only to keep warmth in during cold weather, but also to reflect heat during the summer, eliminating the need for air conditioning. In addition to the eco-credentials of its own products and processes, Actis is on a mission to help specifiers, architects and builders reduce their environmental footprint in line with the forthcoming Future Homes Standard, in part via its two RIBA-approved CPD modules.

‘Tomorrow’s Insulation Solutions for Future Homes Standards’ and ‘Addressing the Performance Gap with Reflective Insulation’ give guidance on how to meet energy efficiency targets and achieve as-built performance. Specifiers in the UK may also be interested in Actis’ ‘doing more with less’ video, which examines its threefold approach to sustainability. The Hybrid range also includes insulating breather membrane and vapour control layers BoostR Hybrid, HControl Hybrid and BoostR Hybrid Roof.

“Although the brochure has been created for the French market,” says Actis UK and Ireland Sales Director Mark Cooper. “The key messages it contains also apply to the UK. These are that we, as an industry, must take action to minimise our negative impact on the environment and that Actis is determined to play its part help achieve this. With the net zero target drawing ever closer, more specifiers are appreciating that our range of sustainably produced insulation solutions offer a quick, clean and easy way to create a thermally efficient building. We are embracing the mantra of ‘doing more with less’ here at Actis.”  www.insulation-actis.com

Accsys Launches ‘Accoya Gives Back’ to Support Social Causes

Accsys has announced the launch of ‘Accoya Gives Back’, a new programme that will donate up to 10m³ of Accoya wood each year to projects that deliver lasting social and environmental benefits. Each year, Accoya Gives Back will support projects in Accsys’ communities that align with Accsys’ values and support its ESG goals and accreditations. It will focus on projects that promote environmental stewardship, social equity, and community resilience.

The first initiative under the scheme will provide Accoya for the windows of an innovative project tackling homelessness in Scotland. Partnering with long-standing Scottish customer Treecraft Woodwork and charity, Social Bite, Accsys is donating Accoya for the windows of sustainable ‘nest houses’. The houses offer safe, supportive accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.

“As a Scottish joinery business, Treecraft is proud to have played a part in this project,” said Alvin Wood, Managing Director at Treecraft. “Using Accoya wood allowed the team to deliver durable, sustainable windows that will serve residents for decades to come and help rebuild lives.”

Built offsite by Ecosystems, the ‘nest houses’ are designed to be highly durable to ensure longterm use. Accoya’s 50-year warranty and low maintenance requirements will help ensure that hundreds of people affected by homelessness will benefit from the houses for decades to come. Construction is underway, with six homes in progress in Edinburgh and 15 more, plus a community hub, planned for Lanarkshire. Beyond temporary shelter, the villages offer tailored support, skills training, and pathways to employment, helping residents rebuild their lives in a dignified, sustainable environment.

Gillian Edwards, Head of ESG and Communications at Accsys, said: “At Accsys, we

are driven by our purpose of ‘Changing Wood to Change the World’. With Accoya Gives Back, we’re proud to use our products to make a real difference in people’s lives, starting with homes that give hope and security to those affected by homelessness.”

Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite added: “Our vision has always been to create innovative solutions to homelessness. Our village projects provide safe, supportive communities that give people experiencing homelessness the best chance to rebuild their lives. The support of partners like Accsys and Treecraft enables us to realise tangible benefits for people who are vulnerable. These new village projects not only offer sustainable housing but also build confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging, creating real pathways out of homelessness.”

Accsys also recently announced a key milestone in locking away over 500,000

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tonnes of CO2eq (equivalent) now locked away in Accoya projects worldwide. Each one cubic metre of Accoya captures and stores the equivalent of 802.4kg of CO2 from the atmosphere. Representing sales up to the end of March 2025, Accsys has sold over 643,666m³ of Accoya worldwide and a total of 516,578 tonnes of CO2eq has been locked away since the first Accoya boards were produced in 2007.

“This is a huge milestone for Accsys and we’re proud to be helping the world build better,” said Gillian Edwards. “Every cubic metre of Accoya used is a step towards a more sustainable built environment. With 100% of our timber sourced from certified sustainable sources, Accoya is a highperformance alternative to resource depleting or heavily polluting building materials, keeping carbon locked away and out of the atmosphere.”

www.accoya.com/uk

Ultrapanel Building Technologies Celebrate Triple Award Wins

Ultrapanel Building Technologies have had a successful award season with three major victories as its ‘next generation’ structural insulated panel (SIP) system picked-up awards for product innovation and retrofit applications.

The team took centre stage at the BUILDOFFSITE Innovation Hub Challenge held during Offsite Expo 2025 in September. Ultrapanel EWI wowed the audience and judging panel with the system’s proven ability to efficiently retrofit outdated housing stock, improving lives, vastly reducing energy costs and carbon. Combining patented technology, prefabricated design and engineering excellence, the system delivers high-performance external wall insulation and roof upgrades across a wide range of housing types.

Another cause for celebration came at the Offsite Awards following the BUILDOFFSITE success, when Ultrapanel picked up the prestigious Award for Product Innovation. The win shines a spotlight on the company’s pioneering approach and confirms its patented Ultrapanel building system as a breakthrough in

modern housebuilding – setting new benchmarks for speed, sustainability and scalability across the industry.

And finally at the beginning of October, the momentum was kept going by being awarded the status of Highly Commended in the Product Innovation category at the Structural Timber Awards 2025.

Speaking of the award wins and the growing acceptance and understanding of timberbased building systems, Tristin Willis, Managing Director of Ultrapanel Building Technologies, said: “We are thrilled – these accolades are a testament to our team’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in non-traditional construction. Ultrapanel is not just about faster build or retrofit times – it is about delivering homes to meet the toughest performance standards while driving down costs and carbon. At a time when the housing sector faces unprecedented challenges, this innovation is about delivering real, tangible benefits.”

Ultrapanel Building Technologies is part of the Ultraframe Group and was established to

www.ultrapanel.co.uk

SiteSmart Launches as New Partner for Timber Construction

SiteSmart, a new national installation partner for lowrise timber frame and SIPS, officially launched on 1 October 2025 at the Structural Timber Conference. The company brings speed and precision to offsite delivery, combining robust standard operating procedures, golden-thread record keeping, and outcomeled planning from model to site.

Established for manufacturers, main contractors, and developers, SiteSmart provides installation services with programme clarity, auditable quality, and national coverage. Its integrated digital tools and proven processes ensure transparent, evidence-based assurance from pre-construction through completion.

“SiteSmart is about giving the sector confidence to scale,” said a company spokesperson. “By uniting digital tools, proven standards, and skilled people, we deliver structural

timber at scale with outcomes that are certain and measurable.”

Operating to recognised industry standards with STA membership, and STA Assure-aligned practice,

SiteSmart applies manufacturing discipline to live construction environments. Each project follows structured digital checks and verifications to ensure accuracy, repeatability, and compliance. The brand debuted at the Structural Timber Conference and sponsored the Commercial/Infrastructure Project of the Year category at the Structural Timber Awards, reinforcing its commitment to the sector and the growth of the UK’s structural timber market.

By aligning installation practice with digital capture and quality management, SiteSmart delivers safer, faster, and more reliable outcomes, supporting predictable programmes and fully traceable handovers.

www.sitesmart.co.uk

TALO Appoints Ultra-low Energy Housing Technical Director

TALO has announced the appointment of Ant Allen CEng MIStructE as Technical Director. With a 40-year career in construction and specialist expertise in MMC, structural engineering and structural warranty certification, Ant brings a unique combination of technical rigour and industry insight to the TALO leadership team.

A chartered structural engineer, he has been a member of the Engineering Council and Institution of Structural Engineers for over 30 years. His experience spans newbuild housing, refurbishment, commercial and leisure developments, and around two decades specialising in offsite. He has worked across both the public and private sectors, as a lead structural designer for social housing and award-winning architecture, and on forensic interrogation on behalf of major building insurers.

Most recently, Ant played a pivotal role at ICW Group, the UK’s thirdlargest structural warranty provider, where he led the development of ICW’s MMC accreditation process. He managed a team of warranty surveyors overseeing residential and commercial developments – including housing projects of 300+ units – and worked closely with underwriters to certify MMC systems.

At TALO, Ant will be involved in commercial operations and will provide technical leadership to support developer clients and their design teams from the earliest stage of a project through to completion. His expertise in structural design will play a central role in ensuring every housebuilding project benefits from a fully integrated and engineered TALO solution, including its new ICW-accredited foundation system and offsitemanufactured timber superstructures.

Ant Allen said: “I have worked with many MMC systems over the years and visited the TALO offsite manufacturing centre as part of their ICW accreditation process. This is the best closed panel solution I have seen for low rise housing. TALO has a trailblazing approach that combines superior quality, thermal efficiency and consistency of manufacture from start to finish. The management team has a refreshing, open-minded approach and an impressive drive to raise standards for low-rise housing through innovation.

“TALO’s system exceeds Passivhaus energy standards as standard and their package now includes an ICW-accredited foundation system – a complete solution for clients that brings significant cost and time savings, particularly for brownfield sites. This is an outstanding advanced timber superstructure system, and I am looking forward to helping TALO to scale its impact and bring these innovations to even more housebuilding clients.” www.talo.co.uk

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TDUK Breathes New Life into Wood Campus

Timber Development UK (TDUK) recently revamped and relaunched Wood Campus, as a brand-new online school designed to provide flexible, accessible training for timber traders across the UK. Developed in partnership with Swedish Wood, the platform offers more than 60 courses and hundreds of hours of potential learning, supporting everyone from timber traders to contractors and designers.

“Customers and specifiers want to know that the materials they buy are responsibly sourced, high quality, and fully compliant with regulations. To make this happen, we need to ensure all members of the timber supply chain are equipped to succeed,” said David Hopkins, Chief Executive of TDUK. “Wood Campus gives our members the tools they need to deepen their knowledge of timber, strengthen customer relationships, and ensure the long-term credibility of their businesses – with knowledgeable staff can underpin ‘Timber you can Trust’.”

Wood Campus will act as a hub for skills development, providing both structured learning and opportunities to for the timber supply chain to build a community of practice where knowledge and expertise can be shared.

Stephen King, UK Project Manager Swedish Wood, welcomed the arrival saying: “Swedish Wood are very pleased to see this evolution of Wood Campus in collaboration with TDUK: we share the aims for this educational tool and expect it will be seen as an important resource for all users.”

Learners can complete individual courses at their own pace or work towards industry-recognised

certification through a newly developed flagship programme for the timber sector, ‘The Essentials of Timber Supply’. This is the first programme made available in TDUK’s Timber Essentials Series, which will cover the entire supply chain, all the way from forest to customer to specifier.

Level One and Level Two are both available for suppliers, containing modules which span a wide range of timber products, grouped by end use – whether they are construction, interior, or exterior – to support better sales. Learners on the course will engage with dozens of timber products, from solid wood products, through to engineered timbers, MDF, decorative panels, decking, fencing and cladding. With more than 60 courses and hundreds of hours of potential learning, Wood Campus will create the foundation for a stronger, more skilled timber industry.

More modules are coming online over the next six months, with Wood Campus adding to TDUK’s diverse education offerings, including webinars and in-person training, designed to drive best practice across all elements of the timber supply chain.

Together, these initiatives form part of TDUK’s broader commitment to supporting skills development across the supply chain and promoting timber as the material of choice for a sustainable construction industry. Access to all courses on Wood Campus is currently being offered free for all members of TDUK, with one login allowing members to enter a seamless learning environment between Wood Campus and TDUK’s knowledge library.

www.woodcampus.co.uk

NEWS IN BRIEF

Test Production Starts at New Äänekoski Kerto LVL Mill

Metsä Wood is responding to the growing demand for timber-based materials by building a new Kerto LVL mill. With an investment of around €300million, the new plant, which is being built on a total area of 50,000sq m and with a production area of 45,000sq m is one of Metsä Wood's largest single investments. The mill is scheduled to start operations at the end of 2026.

Western Welcomes International Delegations on R&D Mission

Western recently welcomed two sets of international visitors. Delegations from Australia and The Netherlands met with senior executives from Western to review best global practice in offsite modular construction. The visitors also took time to tour Western’s extensive manufacturing facilities in Tyrone, which include a new fully automated timber panel production line.

Donaldson Timber Systems Hosts MP for Factory Visit

Donaldson Timber Systems, hosted Charlie Maynard MP at its Witney manufacturing facility to discuss the role of offsite timber frame construction in meeting housebuilding targets. During the visit, Mr Maynard was given a tour of the site, which includes the most advanced automated pre-insulated closed panel wall production line in Europe.

New Appointment Strengthens Calldene Structural Solutions

Calldene Structural Timber Solutions has welcomed Alfred Langdon to the team. Alfred will oversee all purchasing and operational processes, supporting both the factory and office teams. He’ll work closely with management and production staff to maintain strong supplier relationships, co-ordinate materials, and help ensure efficient day-to-day operations.

Labour Conference Sees Much Timber Talk

Senior politicians at the recent Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, discussed increasing the use of structural timber to ramp up the rate of housebuilding across the UK. The STA-hosted panel featured Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP – Chair of the APPG on Temporary Accommodation and Leonie Cooper AM – Chair, London Assembly Environment Committee.

Arup Study Looks at Carbon Impact and Increased Timber Use

‘Improving Whole Life Carbon Estimates for Buildings Constructed out of Timber’ analysed typical newbuild designs of 11 different UK building types and assessed the carbon impacts of increasing timber use in their structure, façade, and internal partitions. The report estimates UK consumption-based emissions savings for 2024-2050 across nine scenarios, which varied by timber uptake and material decarbonisation rates.

BWF and Industry Partners Pressure No10

More than 20 senior leaders spanning the UK’s construction, woodworking and built environment sectors have co-signed an open letter to the Prime Minister warning that Government plans to reform apprenticeships will weaken skills standards, damage employer confidence and undermine the delivery of 1.5 million new homes.

The coalition – led by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) – argues that proposals from Skills England, including reducing apprenticeship duration to just eight months and introducing ‘sampling’ assessments rather than full competency checks, will create a fast-track system that prioritises cost-saving over capability.

With an estimated 250,000 additional workers required to meet the Government’s housing targets, the signatories warn that construction employers will no longer trust apprenticeships under the proposed system, putting both workforce growth and building safety at risk.

Helen Hewitt, BWF Chief Executive said: “The Government’s proposed apprenticeship

reforms risk dismantling the foundations of competence and safety in our industry. By shortening the duration of apprenticeships and replacing rigorous, impartial assessments with lighter-touch alternatives, these changes threaten to dilute skills, undermine confidence and create dangerous inconsistencies across the construction sector.

“At a time when the country urgently needs more skilled workers to meet housing and infrastructure demands, cutting corners on training is a short-sighted and dangerous path. We strongly urge Skills England and the Government to listen to employers, training providers and industry bodies before it’s too late. Should these changes go through, all apprenticeships delivered in England will be impacted meaning other industry sectors should also be taking keen interest in the progress of these reforms.”

The open letter also warns that: the reforms conflict with the Building Safety Act and Dame Judith Hackitt’s recommendations on competence-led training, the proposed approach

could invalidate CSCS cards, which play a critical role in workforce accreditation and site access, a shift to government-driven assessment plans threatens to displace industry-led standards that employers currently trust and that reforms risk triggering a ‘race to the bottom’ as assessment providers compete to offer the fastest route to completion.

www.bwf.org.uk

BE-ST Innovation Campus Relaunches with Two New Facilities

BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation) officially relaunched its Innovation Campus at the start of September, by welcoming stakeholders to see the newly equipped Mass Timber Centre of Excellence and Scotland’s newly retrofitted National Retrofit Centre.

The event, held at BE-ST’s Innovation Campus in Hamilton, marked the first event in the BE-ST Fest 2025 Fringe Festival and brought together industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and innovators to showcase the Campus’s new facilities, explore opportunities for collaboration, and mark the start of the next chapter for BE-ST.

Supported by Scottish Funding Council and host institution Edinburgh Napier University, the Mass Timber Centre of Excellence now houses £1.5million of newly acquired, state-of-the-art mass timber post-processing equipment and fully integrated extraction system. This will complement existing capabilities and further enhance production capacity, precision finishing, and health and safety processes.

The Centre provides the UK construction sector with access to advanced timber manufacturing capabilities, including the largest commercially available CNC machine in the UK

and full-scale production of cross laminated timber (CLT), nail laminated timber (NLT), and glulam. The facility will be capable of an annual output of around 8,000m³ when operated at full capacity, on a single shift. It will play a pivotal role in strengthening local supply chains, creating jobs, and reducing carbon emissions by accelerating the adoption of UK-grown mass timber solutions. With the UK currently importing around 73,000m³ of mass timber each year, the Centre aims to unlock significant economic, environmental, and social benefits by onshoring the production and use of mass timber products to Scotland.

“The Mass Timber Centre of Excellence opens up huge opportunities for the construction sector,” said Sam Hart, Associate Director of Manufacturing and Housing at BE-ST. “By investing in mass timber, we are not just advancing low carbon approaches to construction, we are also investing in economic growth, creating jobs, and providing solutions to some key challenges facing the built environment sector.”

BE-ST also celebrated the reopening of Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre (SNRC), a facility dedicated to scaling retrofit solutions and

skills across the UK, following the completion of the Centre’s own deep retrofit. The retrofit project was delivered by Clark Contracts and part-funded through Phase 1 of Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund. Edinburgh Napier University, administrator of BE-ST, was awarded £1.2million through the fund, which is delivered by Salix on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Caitriona Jordan, Associate Director of Retrofit and Energy Efficiency, added: “Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre is the hub for developing retrofit skills and knowledge, both through hands-on training and by serving as a living case study. Our mission is to coordinate and support Scotland’s journey to decarbonise its existing buildings.

Together, the two facilities are positioned to address some of the most urgent challenges facing the UK: the climate emergency, the housing crisis, rising energy costs, and the need to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes and buildings at scale, while also creating new economic and skills opportunities for Scotland’s built environment and construction supply chain.

www.be-st.build

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UK Winners at Global Timber Prize

Built by Nature – the not-for-profit organisation, with a mission to ‘lead a global transformation of the built environment by accelerating the responsible use of timber and biobased materials’, announced the six winners and six commended buildings for the Built by Nature Prize 2025 at its London summit in October.

The winners represent the leading edge of sustainable design and are featured in a new documentary film: ‘Our Future: Built by Nature’ –produced by Open Planet Studios, alongside Sir David Attenborough and COP30 President Marina

Silva and will be shown at COP30, Belém, Brazil.

The Built by Nature Prize 2025 celebrates the projects and people accelerating the global shift towards timber and bio-based construction. Open for entries over two months earlier this year, the Prize attracted nearly 400 applications from 39 countries and jurisdictions.

All entries were assessed against BbN’s Principles for Responsible Timber Construction, a global framework designed to ensure that growing demand for timber is met with environmental and social responsibility and endorsed by over 260 leading global organisations. To score highly,

applicants were required to submit detailed information on construction materials, embodied carbon, certification, and reuse strategies.

Among the judges was Kevin McCloud, architect and familiar host of C4’s Grand Designs that said: “These projects challenge outdated assumptions and show that timber is not only safe and sustainable, but also socially transformative. From fire stations to social housing, they prove that wood can be the material of resilience, beauty, and bold innovation.”

One of the six winning projects was the UK’s Black and White Building (pictured), designed by Waugh Thistleton Architects and London’s tallest engineered timber office building. The sevenstorey, 4,480sq m workplace was completed in 2022. Amongst the commended projects was Paradise SE11 and Durley Chine Environmental Hub that sits on Bournemouth’s Blue Flag beach. Built by Nature CEO Paul King, who chaired the panel of judges, said: “This Prize celebrates the organisations driving real change around the world, transforming construction for a regenerative future. The ambition of this year’s winners and commendations speak volumes about the progress being made in timber construction globally. These are not just buildings; they are bold, real-world demonstrations of what’s possible when design, material, and purpose align with the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction.”

https://builtbn.org/prize

CLT Toolbox Rebrands to SPEC Toolbox

SPEC Toolbox has announced its rebranding from CLT Toolbox. The rebranding coincides with a major expansion of the platform’s free offering in Europe, unlocking the entire suite of calculators for engineers to use for free when designing with products from SPEC Toolbox’s supply chain partners.

This evolution is a key step forward for users and partners, broadening the scope of technical problems the platform is engineered to solve. The platform, which originally focused on cross laminated timber, has grown to include eight product categories, and the new brand reflects its expanded mission. With this change, SPEC Toolbox aims to be the best software in

any product category it enters, empowering the industry to innovate.

“Our mission is simple: to make innovation easy to specify,” said Adam Jones, CEO of SPEC Toolbox. “Product manufacturers drive industry innovation and passionate engineers every day are seeking solutions for their projects that challenge the norm. By rebranding and providing free access to all our tools for our partners, we are giving designers the confidence to specify the materials of the future and putting incredible manufacturer solutions right into the hands of engineers.”

For engineers, the platform eliminates the need to build significant spreadsheets that can take hundreds of hours to rummage through disparate supply chain data found in PDFs. This

new model removes the technical barriers to product specification, scaling engineering capacity for practices across Europe. This approach is resonating within the industry, with the platform boasting over 5,000 user signups globally and partnerships with 30 major product suppliers.

The platform's success has been driven by its diverse and talented founding team, including CEO Adam Jones, who previously felt specification problems as a supplier at XLam and a specifier at WSP. SPEC Toolbox is a structural design platform developed by engineers, for engineers. Initially focused exclusively on mass timber, the platform has expanded to make innovation easy to specify across a growing number of building product categories. With a team experienced across five continents, SPEC Toolbox brings global code compliance and real-world constructability to the heart of modern design.

www.spectoolbox.com

When you’re specifying building materials, transparency and trust in your supply chain counts. Whether it’s construction and roofing membranes, ventilation or damp proofing solutions, reliance on technical data is key.

For over 40 years, we’ve been a partner that you can rely on. Turn to Glidevale Protect today for all the technical support you need.

Velindre Cancer Centre Reaches Major Milestone

Work on the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) has reached a major milestone with the installation of the timber frame that will form the internal Lolfa (living room) at the centre – a key part of the build, which all people will pass through when visiting.

One of the largest timber frames of its kind in the UK, the design of the nVCC revolves around the timber-framed Lolfa, a central core space that extends the full height of the building. This central area will provide a welcoming point of arrival for patients and visitors and will be easily identified because of its distinctive finish and

design. It will include a café, an amphitheatretype seating arrangement where medical staff, patients and visitors can sit and enjoy the view into the lower entrance garden.

Every aspect of the nVCC’s design, including the Lolfa, which is being built by Principal Contractor Sacyr UK, is centred around the needs of patients, staff, families and carers. Features such as green spaces, improved parking, therapeutic spaces and dedicated family areas will enhance comfort, dignity and the overall care experience.

New Velindre Cancer Centre Project Director, David Powell, said of the installation: “The fitting of the timber frame is a hugely exciting milestone. This key structure will not only define the look and feel of the Lolfa, but also reflects our commitment to building a modern, low carbon hospital that places people at its heart.”

The timber frame is key to the design of the nVCC. Created by architects White Arkitekter, it aims to create an open, flexible and naturally calming space for staff and patients and their families. The timber used in the frame is also an

CLT Fire Tests for Cavity Barriers Eliminate Repeat Assessments

Willmott Dixon has commissioned comprehensive fire safety tests for cavity barriers on CLT to eliminate a technical gap that has created uncertainty and delays on CLT projects. The testing programme, which Willmott Dixon did in partnership with passive fire protection specialist Siderise and CLT manufacturer KLH, provides the industry with certified solutions for projects using CLT and Siderise cavity barriers in both wall and floor applications. Previously, all projects would have required individual technical assessments.

Conducted at Siderise's Innovation Centre in Maesteg, the tests examined three critical interface scenarios that appear across CLT construction projects:

• CLT wall interfaces in vertical configuration with EW-CB 30 Cavity Barrier (tested to EN1366-4)

• CLT floor and wall interfaces in horizontal configuration with EW-CB 30 Cavity Barrier (tested to EN1366-4)

• CLT floor and wall interfaces in horizontal configuration with RH25 90/30 Cavity Barrier for rainscreen applications (tested to TGD19 prEN1364-6).

All three tests passed successfully, covering worst-case scenarios including 100mm fivelayer CLT panels tested to rigorous European standards. The absence of standardised testing for cavity barriers on CLT has meant that every project required bespoke technical assessments, creating inefficiency in design processes and uncertainty around fire safety performance. The new test data provides design teams across the sector with certified solutions that can be specified with confidence.

“This testing addresses a genuine technical gap that affects every organisation working with CLT,” said Jessica Winyard, Architectural Technologist at Willmott Dixon. “By working collaboratively with Siderise and KLH to develop these solutions, we're helping to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon construction methods while ensuring robust fire safety performance."

For architects, engineers and contractors working on CLT projects, the implications are immediate and practical including: standard cavity barrier details can now be specified without project-specific fire testing, design programmes are streamlined, removing delays associated with bespoke assessments, fire safety performance is backed by certified test evidence to EN1366-4 and prEN1364-6 standards and risk is reduced through proven solutions for vertical walls, horizontal floors and rainscreen applications

extremely sustainable material and will help the centre achieve its goal of being one of the UK’s most sustainable health centres.

The timber frame is being fitted by B&K Hybrid Solutions. Alex Brock of BKHS added: “Structural timber has been selected to showcase the strength and elegance of the material while creating warm, inviting spaces. CLT and glulam which form the core structure, have the added benefits of contributing to the building’s low-carbon footprint, rapid construction timeline and exceptional thermal performance. Supporting steelwork strategically complements the timber components, ensuring structural stability and flexibility, while maintaining a sleek and contemporary design.”

The nVCC is scheduled to open in Spring 2027. It will deliver better outcomes through world-class cancer treatment, enhanced diagnostic capability and greater access to innovation, training and research.

https://newvelindre.info/home

Mort, Director of Testing & Project Engineering at Siderise said: “One of the primary goals of investing in the Siderise Innovation Centre was to provide the industry with the means to back their designs with robust test data, helping them achieve compliance and deliver safer buildings without compromising on design. We were delighted to support Willmott Dixon with the development of standard details for the CLT projects, and our learning from this process has been invaluable for expanding our own understanding of the demands of such an innovative structural system.”

The availability of tested certified solutions for CLT cavity barriers removes a significant barrier to the wider adoption of CLT in construction projects. With these tests complete and results now available to the industry, CLT projects can proceed with greater confidence and efficiency, supporting the sector's transition to lower-carbon construction methods while ensuring robust fire protection in concealed space.

www.willmottdixon.co.uk

HIGH QUALITY WOOD FROM NORTHERN FINLAND

Gap House Project Transforms Disused Garages into Affordable Homes

A council-owned, disused garage plot in Bristol has been revitalised to create affordable housing thanks to the innovative Gap House concept. The nine one-bedroom, twostorey sustainable homes are now complete, with the first residents beginning to move in.

Designed by architects and landscape architects at multidisciplinary design practice

BDP and built by contractor Beard and structural insulated panels (SIP) specialist Etopia, the homes were commissioned and funded by Bristol City Council. BDP originally showcased its Gap House concept design at the Housing Festival Expo in Bristol in 2018, as a proposed way of helping to address the city’s need for housing and revitalising neighbourhoods.

The use of modern methods of construction (MMC) methods has helped overcome the challenge of building on a tight, urban site with limited access. “Creating safe and healthy neighbourhoods, with affordable, high-quality homes is one of the council’s key priorities,” said Councillor Barry Parsons, chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee at Bristol City Council.

“Working with partners is key to helping us achieve these goals. Using innovation and MMC, the Gap House concept has allowed us to build vital homes on a difficult site with limited access. I am also delighted that the new homes are low energy and sustainable, which will result in cheaper energy bills for future tenants.”

Each home will be energy efficient, cheap to run and have a

low environmental impact, thanks to low energy lighting, high levels of insulation, minimal heating requirements and renewable energy generated by solar PV panels and air source heat pumps.

“The Gap House showcases a huge potential to transform the thousands of disused garage plots across the country into muchneeded, sustainable and affordable housing,” said Nick Fairham, Chief Executive at BDP. “It shows the power of thinking innovatively about how we repurpose small pockets of derelict brownfield land to help create thriving cities and communities that benefit all. We are delighted to see new innovative, environmentally friendly council homes completed. Bristolians are now living in places that provide

security, warmth and a better future. Bristol desperately needs more council housing: these are the exact sort of homes that need to be built at scale across the city if we are to make progress tackling the housing crisis.

The Gap House concept was refined as part of an Innovate UK programme supported by the Housing Festival, designed to explore the potential for MMC housing. Last year, it featured in the Housing Festival’s ‘Social Rent Housing: The MMC Playbook’, a guide for local authorities, which highlighted Gap House as “an innovative approach to successfully unlocking land and overcoming challenges for successful creation of new housing.”

www.bdp.com/uk

Constructional Timber UK Expands Yorkshire Facility

Constructional Timber UK, the parent company of Constructional Timber (Manufacturers) Ltd which designs, manufactures and installs engineered timber frames systems, has acquired the former Truswell Haulage site at Fall Bank Industrial Estate in Dodworth, from Breck Holdings. The Barnsley-based firm has completed the purchase of a 70,000sq ft industrial unit as part of ambitious relocation and business expansion plans.

The warehouse, maintenance bay and office accommodation will become the firm’s new South Yorkshire base after a £200,000 refurbishment programme to adapt the site for Constructional Timber’s use. It is expected to be ready for February 2026. The premises sit on a 10-acre site, with the company hoping to develop further accommodation on site, subject to planning.

Owner Martin Daws said: “What attracted us to the site was its size, location, and proximity to the M1 motorway for distribution and connectivity purposes, as well as the potential on the site for further development. The 10acre site gives us the ability to relocate our business to a bespoke factory designed for our

ongoing needs in one location, but also the site offers potential for us to develop further accommodation. Constructional Timber UK has also just completed the acquisition of local joinery company Kirk and Cranston who will be part of the CTUK group. The purchase of the new site will provide new opportunities for the development of K&C going forward.”

The premises were marketed on behalf of Breck Holdings by Knight Frank and Christopher Dee. Rebecca Schofield, partner at Knight Frank in Sheffield, acting for vendor Breck Holdings, said: “Constructional Timber saw the potential in the

location of the site, just a mile away from the M1, but also how they could adapt and refurbish the building to suit their requirements.” Constructional Timber was set up in 1979 in Penistone. It currently employs 25 staff in the factory and office. The team handles projects from concept to installation for firms nationwide, winning major contracts worth up to £1.5million for national construction companies, including Kier and Mace, as well as working for smaller contractors, universities and leisure centre operators.

www.constructionaltimber.com

Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions and Hilti GB Collaborate to Advance Timber Construction

Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions and Hilti Great Britain have formed a strategic partnership to raise standards in timber construction. The collaboration focuses on delivering measurable improvements in health and safety, productivity, sustainability and digitalisation across Saint-Gobain’s UK offsite operations.

By combining Hilti’s technologies and services with Saint-Gobain’s expertise in offsite manufacturing, the initiative is supporting the UK Government’s target of delivering 1.5 million new homes. It aligns with the Timber in Construction Roadmap and complements the drive to grow the timber and offsite manufacturing industry.

Andy Burnham, Director of Operations at Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions, said: “Saint-Gobain is investing in the future of housing delivery by expanding our offsite capabilities and embracing digital and safety-led innovation. Hilti’s support has been central to meeting the demands of modern construction. Together, we are building homes that are safer, faster to construct and more sustainable.”

The programme is being rolled out across Saint-Gobain Off-Site entities and is designed to streamline workflows and accelerate the delivery of highquality homes at scale.

Andrew Orriss, CEO, Structural Timber Association said: “The Timber in Construction roadmap marks an important step forward. With the government aiming to deliver 1.5 million new homes, structural timber presents a practical, scalable and low-carbon solution to help meet that target. This kind of partnership shows the industry is aligned and ready to build at scale. The STA will continue to support the sector through quality assurance, training and strong advocacy. It’s encouraging to see two major players working together to raise standards and help move timber construction into the mainstream”

Thibaud Lefebvre, Vice President of Sales, Hilti Great Britain, added: “Hilti is investing in solutions that are tailored for the timber industry. Offsite construction presents significant opportunity, and we are committed to supporting our customers with innovations that advance safety, productivity and sustainability. Our work with Saint-Gobain demonstrates how digitalisation and innovation can unlock new levels of efficiency and long-term value in timber construction.”

www.hilti.co.uk

www.saint-gobain.co.uk/off-site-solutions-division

Construction Underway at NMITE’s Centre for Innovation & Future Skills

Construction is ongoing at NMITE’s Centre for Innovation and Future Skills with base plates installed and the timber frame recently erected. Due to be opened in Spring 2026, this is a significant milestone in the construction of the building which is located on NMITE’s Blackfriars Campus.

The new centre will include 180sqm of new space and will renovate 90sq m of an unused part of the existing Edwardian building. A hybrid glulam beam made from UK grown timber was installed as part of a project led by NMITE’s Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) with Edinburgh Napier University on Building from England’s Woodland. The project aims to demonstrate the viability of English grown timber in modern construction methods. Drones will be used to capture overhead footage of this stage of the build with timelapse from the camera already mounted on-site.

Wojciech Plowas, Structural Timber Design & Analysis Consultant from The Institute for Sustainable Construction at Edinburgh Napier University said: “The incorporation of the UK grown softwood and hardwood combined glue laminated timber beam in the NMITE Skills Hub coincides with the launch of the Mass Timber Centre of Excellence at BE-ST where it was manufactured by EcoSystems Technologies. Napier in collaboration with BE-ST, EcoSystems, dRMM Architects and NMITE have shown in the Forestry Commission England funded Building from England’s Woodlands how re-engineering and optimising UK resource is ready to play a bigger role in the sector. The beam is a showcase of this capability”

James Newby, NMITE CEO added: “We’re thrilled to see the centre coming to life, delivering on NMITE’s mission to deliver economic benefit to Herefordshire and revolutionise upskilling in the local area. Once built, it will become home to NMITE’s Innovation Support Programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, and will be the venue for our annual Future of Work Conference.”

The centre has been designed by local firm Arbor Architects and will be brought to life by local timber construction company, Firth Construction, with other members of the team including project management firm Greenwood Projects, mechanical and electrical designers VIDA, structural designers Giraffe Engineering, landscape designers Seed Landscape Design and glulam manufacturer Buckland Timber.

Backed by over £2million in capital funding from the Government’s Towns Fund, the Centre for Innovation and Skills is a core element of the broader Stronger Hereford programme – an initiative to make Hereford a better place to live, learn, work and visit.

www.nmite.ac.uk

Hundegger WALL-Master

Seen for the first time at LIGNA in May 2025, was the Hundegger Wall-Master. The allrounder for processing and assembly of insulated timber framed elements for construction.

Designed to process to the highest accuracy, walls, floors and roof systems for the highest performance timber buildings. Its compact gantry design with integrated control cabinets ensures optimal space usage in any factory environment.

The modular design allows for customised configurations and maximum flexibility. The powerful processing unit guarantees precise manufacturing of wall, roof, and ceiling elements – ensuring repeatability and accuracy.

An automatically controlled tool changer system enables optimal use of all types of fasteners. Full integration into the CAMBIUM software platform simplifies operation and control, helping user-friendliness and productivity. 

For more details connect with Hundegger WALL-Master or Chris Osborne 07512155156

Changing the Game for Timber Frame

With mass customisation in brick-effect cladding on the rise – how is this type of advanced facade manufacturing giving timber frame developers design freedom, faster programmes and proven performance?

For all its sustainability and speed advantages, timber frame construction has long wrestled with one stubborn constraint – brick. Traditional masonry remains central to the UK’s architectural identity, yet its reliance on wet trades, scaffolding and favourable weather sits uneasily alongside factory-controlled precision and rapid site assembly.

Rethinking brick for the offsite era

The industry has been searching for a way to reconcile these worlds – to deliver authentic brick aesthetics without losing the efficiency that defines modern methods of construction (MMC). Increasingly, that solution lies in a new generation of engineered brick-alternative facade systems designed specifically for offsite integration.

Mass customisation – the ability to achieve bespoke design at manufactured scale – is reshaping how specifiers think about external walls. Instead of choosing between standardisation and creativity, developers can now replicate virtually any brick type, colour or bond pattern across repeatable, quality-assured facade panels.

Mauerwall has placed this concept at the heart of its approach. The company’s precision-engineered panels are formed from a mineral polymer compound with natural aggregates, creating surfaces indistinguishable from traditional brickwork while maintaining consistent tolerances. Each panel is factory-produced with integrated corners, reveals and castellations, allowing architectural detailing to be specified up-front rather than improvised on-site. “By manufacturing every aesthetic decision into the panel, we eliminate on-site variables while giving designers freedom over texture and bond,” says Krishan Pattni, Chief Design Officer.

A system developed for timber frame

For timber frame manufacturers, integration is everything. Wall panels arrive at site complete with insulation, membranes and fixings precisely set out for rapid installation. Mauerwall’s system mirrors that philosophy: pre-engineered kits align directly with timber frame layouts, fixing into place without the sequencing delays of bricklaying.

Because panels are pre-pointed and dry-fixed, installation becomes weather-independent – a crucial advantage in the UK’s variable climate. The approach also reduces scaffolding requirements and minimises waste, helping factories and installers deliver predictable programmes and cleaner sites.

Performance proven and verified

Any innovation in the building envelope stands or falls on assurance, and here Mauer’s credentials align with the most demanding offsite standards. The system achieves an A2-s1-d0 non-combustible fire rating, ensuring full compliance for residential and public buildings, and carries KIWA BDA certification following independent testing to a 60-plus year design life. It has also been verified to Category 1 impact resistance for use at ground-floor and public-realm level and delivers up to 50% lower embodied carbon than a traditional brick-facing wall. Together, these metrics mean the system can be specified with the same confidence as established facade materials while contributing directly to clients’ netzero and compliance targets.

Scaling sustainably

Mass customisation is not just an aesthetic breakthrough – it also changes the sustainability equation. By replacing site-mixed mortar and individual brick deliveries with lightweight, precast panels, transport emissions and on-site energy use fall sharply. Factory batching optimises material usage, and panels can incorporate recycled aggregates without compromising visual quality. For timber frame and modular manufacturers operating at increasing volumes, these incremental savings multiply quickly across large housing programmes.

Mauerwall has already been adopted by several of the UK’s largest housebuilders, providing real-world validation of its manufacturing and performance claims. At schemes such as Civic Living, Houlton and Kitchener Barracks Apartments, Chatham, prefabricated facade panels have been installed alongside offsite timber superstructures to deliver consistent quality and accelerated build schedules. “Housebuilders are realising that brick aesthetics don’t have to mean bricklaying,” says Pattni. “Once they see the speed and finish quality, the mindset changes immediately.”

A bridge between aesthetics and efficiency

Mauerwall bridges two worlds that once seemed incompatible: architectural expression and industrial efficiency. For an industry under pressure to deliver more homes with lower carbon and greater predictability, that bridge could prove decisive. As offsite methods mature, the facade can no longer remain the weak link in the chain. Systems engineered for DfMA workflows – backed by data, certification and proven real-world use – are redefining what’s possible in timber construction.

In that sense, Mauerwall represents more than another cladding option. It exemplifies a broader shift in thinking: from products to

processes, from repetition to responsive manufacturing, and from compromise to confidence. As Pattni says: “The goal is to create more architectural variation and richness, increase the speed of construction without compromising on quality aesthetic and affordability - ultimately enhancing the built environment for the next generation.”

www.mauerwall.com

Engineered facades for modern construction

Brick, reimagined for offsite. Sustainable, rapid-install facades built for the future of construction.

Developed in collaboration with leading UK housebuilders, Mauer delivers the speed, quality and compliance today’s projects demand.

Timber at Scale – a Day of Positive Discussion

Exploring questions of confidence, collaboration and carbon, the Structural Timber Conference 2025 brought together leading voices across timber and construction for a day reflecting on the industry’s growing maturity.

Held at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham and colocated for the first time with the Structural Timber Awards, the event created a natural connection between debate and recognition of the ideas shaping timber construction’s future and the projects realising them. Throughout the day, the conversation returned to confidence in policy, manufacturing capability and design excellence – and in timber’s ability to meet housing and carbon targets. The conference reflected an industry increasingly recognising both its potential and responsibility.

Industry confidence and direction

Setting the tone for the day, Andrew Orriss, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA), spoke of a sector that has moved decisively from advocacy to delivery. His message was one of progress and purpose. “The noise around timber is loud,” he said, “and it’s starting to cut through.” Andrew highlighted the Timber in Construction Roadmap as a crucial step in building confidence and addressing long-standing misconceptions. With major housebuilders now investing in their own timber frame capability and manufacturers strengthening relationships with clients and warranty providers, he described a sector ready to grow.

Continuing the theme of alignment, Edward Jezeph, Senior Manager at Homes England, placed this growing confidence within a wider policy context. As an agency responsible for housing and regeneration, Homes England is using its land, capital and influence to unlock sites and accelerate low-carbon delivery through initiatives such as the Affordable Homes Programme and a network of Strategic Place Partnerships. Ed Jezeph also highlighted the forthcoming Future Homes Standard 2025 and new financing mechanisms like the National Housing Bank as signals of stronger market support. Together, Orriss and Jezeph painted a picture of a sector aligning around shared purpose - building better, faster and with lower impact.

Building momentum – policy to practice

If the morning focused on confidence, the next session explored how to turn it into action, aligning policy ambition with market readiness and delivery of low-carbon projects at scale. Anna Lisa McSweeney, UK Networks Lead at Built by Nature, spoke of a sector ready to lead but held back by fragmented regulation and inconsistent policy.

From early engagement through to final handover, we deliver projects with efficiency, safety, and precision built in.

Our mission is simple: to provide manufacturers, contractors, and developers with a smarter way to install timber systems – one that reduces programme risk, drives productivity, and delivers measurable outcomes.

The SITESMART way:

Speed with precision – installs delivered right, first time

Safety assured – accredited teams with robust H&S culture

Digital-first – programme clarity, golden thread compliance, audit-ready

Sustainable outcomes –lower waste, lower carbon, future-focused

National installation partner for timber frame and SIPS Ready to build smarter? Let’s talk.

Partnership mindset –working collaboratively with manufacturers, contractors, and developers

National coverage - teams across the UK

Timber Frame & SIPS installation expertise

Façade system integration

Digitally enabled operations –golden thread compliance

DfMA planning & early engagement – saving time, cost & carbon

Robust SOPs –process-driven, repeatable quality

Drawing on a European survey, she highlighted familiar challenges – cost, fire safety and insurance – and the need for clarity and collaboration for timber to fulfil its potential. Yet McSweeney was optimistic. She pointed to major insurers now underwriting mass timber projects in the UK and the publication of the Mass Timber Insurance Playbook as evidence of trust returning to the market. “We are starting to see attitudes change,” she said.

Paul Brannen, Director of Public Affairs at the Confederation of Timber Industries, reframed the discussion in climate terms, reminding delegates that timber delivers a triple benefit – sequestration, substitution and storage. Scaling up timber, he said, could lock away up to eight million tonnes of CO₂ each year across housing, commercial and retrofit projects, while building industrial capacity, jobs and stronger UK supply chains. He closed with a succinct rallying call: “We need more timber in more buildings.” It summed up the mood of a session looking beyond barriers to the momentum gathering across policy and delivery.

Delivering housing differently – systems, standardisation and scale

The conversation turned to the frameworks and tools defining the next generation of housing delivery, focusing on the systems and partnerships making that potential tangible.

Adam Graveley, Head of Technical and Innovation at the Future Homes Hub, outlined how collaboration between developers, contractors and government is helping to shape the transition to the Future Homes Standard 2025. The Hub’s work brings together more than 170 professionals across 20 working groups, with each focused on delivery, from embodied carbon to performance benchmarking. Graveley described how shared learning and data transparency are driving a wider shift from policy to practice, built on collective accountability. “Success,” he said, “will depend on informed decision-making and practical solutions that bring consistency to design, specification and delivery.”

That emphasis on process was echoed by Katie Rudin of Akerlof and Sofia Raineri of HLM Architects, who presented the government-funded ‘Digital Kit-of-Parts project’ – a proof-of-concept showing how an open data structure can streamline design and procurement. Developed for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the research initiative provides a standardised digital framework.

By defining metrics from fire safety to embodied carbon, the digital kit creates a level playing field and simplifies compliance with emerging regulations. Rudin and Raineri positioned it as a “shared language for modern housebuilding” – one that makes the industrialisation of low-rise housing both achievable and replicable.

“Timber construction in the UK is no longer defined by what it promises to deliver but by proof of what it genuinely can do. Across housing, education, manufacturing and design, evidence of delivery is everywhere, with collaboration the thread connecting it all.”

From concept to delivery, Jack Brayshaw of Vistry Group provided a developer’s perspective on scaling modern methods through in-house capability. Detailing the company’s Vistry Works manufacturing network – three offsite factories producing open and closed-panel walls, floor cassettes and roof trusses – Brayshaw explained how the business has embedded timber-based offsite methods into its housing strategy. The results are clear: faster build times, improved quality assurance and reduced waste. Brayshaw’s Dracan Village development in Burton-onTrent was highlighted as a model for multitenure, timber-led delivery – a demonstration of how industrialised housing can meet both social and commercial needs.

Closing the session, Charlotte Hale of SO Modular brought the focus to manufacturing innovation in Wales. From the company’s 350,000sq ft net-zero operational-carbon factory in Neath, she outlined how regional supply chains can deliver large-scale, low-carbon housing while supporting local employment and skills. Projects such as Gwynfaen (144 zero-carbon homes using locally sourced Welsh timber and wood-fibre insulation), Loftus Gardens (54 timber frame homes) and County Flats (a volumetric and retrofit programme) illustrate the breadth of SO Modular’s work. Charlotte’s message reflected a wider theme of the conference: that scale and sustainability

are no longer competing priorities. The challenge is not whether timber can deliver, but how rapidly the industry can align around the standards and infrastructure to do so.

The Panel Debate

The post-lunch panel debate provided a dynamic conversation on how the UK can expand timber manufacturing capacity to meet

growing demand for timber frame and offsite manufactured homes.

Chaired by Darren Richards, Managing Director of Cogent Consulting, the session brought together leaders from across the supply chain. Each shared the challenges and opportunities of scaling production at pace while maintaining factory quality control, fire-safety assurance and sustainability.

Alex Goodfellow, CEO of Donaldson Offsite, emphasised long-term investment and pipeline visibility, arguing that confidence, not just capacity, will unlock growth. “Manufacturers need clear, consistent

Structural Timber Conference 2025

demand pipelines,” he said, “and developers need confidence that timber systems can deliver repeatably at scale.”

From manufacturing, Peter Blunt, Managing Director at Innovaré Offsite and Ola Skoglund, Managing Director at Randek highlighted how automation, precision and improved levels of data drive efficiency. Skoglund noted that integrated production technology and digital intelligence are transforming throughput and consistency without compromising performance.

Oliver Novakovic, Group Technical and Innovation Director at Barratt Redrow, set out the housebuilder’s perspective: significant investment in timber frame manufacturing (including a new £45million factory and an expansion of Selkirk) and a goal of delivering around 9,000 of 22,000 annual homes with timber frame kits. He pointed to growing client and regulatory demand for verifiable low-carbon solutions, and to the need for collaboration between manufacturers and developers so that standardisation, assurance and innovation progress together.

What united the panel was a sense that the market is at an inflection point. Scaling production is now as much about coordination as technology, with shared standards, risk and data at its core. As Darren Richards concluded: “The infrastructure is being built, now it’s about connecting the pieces.”

Design, performance and the road ahead

Across the afternoon, the conversation turned from strategy to delivery, and to those translating ambition into architecture, engineering and data-driven practice across the built environment.

Drawing attention to the growing use of structural timber in the education sector, Architype’s Ann-Marie Fallon, Associate and Certified Passivhaus Designer, drew on the Safe Schools for the Future programme to show how rigour and research are reshaping design. Referencing 17 completed timber schools, including the award-winning Maybury Primary School in Edinburgh, she showed how post-occupancy evaluation is closing the loop between design and performance. The result, she argued, is a new level of transparency and assurance –that fire safety in timber buildings is advancing through evidence, testing and collaboration rather than assumption.

Turning to the urban environment, Kelly Harrison, Director at Whitby Wood, introduced ‘Optoppen’, a research-led study into lightweight vertical extensions that could redefine how cities grow. Developed with international partners including IAAC Barcelona and Fast & Epp Vancouver, the work demonstrates how timber can unlock up to 16% additional housing capacity within existing urban footprints while cutting embodied carbon. Her message was that the route to low-carbon density doesn’t always mean building new – sometimes it means building up.

From a design-led perspective, Victoria Hale of architects dRMM spoke about rethinking traditional housing models through adaptable prototypes. Her session, ‘Adaptation of Prototype Housing Schemes - How to Re-think Traditional Design’, explored how standardisation and creativity co-exist: expressive architecture underpinned by robust technical detailing. For Hale, success in timber design depends as much on open information exchange between disciplines as on engineering innovation itself. The manufacturing dimension was picked up by Stewart Dalgarno, Project Manager at the STA, who outlined the Timber Frame Growth Project, which aims to double timber frame’s market share in England to 25% by 2030. The project is delivering tools such as the ‘Thermal Details Platform’, ‘Timber Frame Where to Start Guide’ and ‘Homebuilders TF Hub’, mapping demand, capacity and skills across the UK to pinpoint where investment and policy support are most needed.”

use and understanding of timber as a structural material has gained huge momentum and the day explored many aspects of its place in the built environment

Closing the technical sessions, Christian Nielsen, Senior Advisor at Swedish Wood, offered an international perspective on supply and resilience. Despite global disruption caused by the war in Ukraine and evolving European forestry policy, Sweden now exports around 30million m³ of sawn softwood each year and has more than doubled its forest standing stock over the past century. Christian Nielsen described a system built on long-term stewardship and industrial efficiency –a model of sustainable forestry underpinning the reliability of the material on which the UK’s growth ambitions strongly depend.

A successful day of discussion and debate

As the day ended, a consistent message emerged. Timber construction in the UK is no longer defined by what it promises to deliver but by proof of what it genuinely can do.

Across housing, education, manufacturing and design, evidence of delivery is everywhere, with collaboration the thread connecting it all. The co-location of the Conference and Awards offered more than logistical convenience, it captured a genuine sense of momentum. From strategic policymakers to material innovators, the collective ambition was clear – to scale responsibly, act collaboratively and communicate with confidence.

As discussion gave way to celebration at the Structural Timber Awards that evening, the day’s themes found expression in the projects and people being recognised. The optimism that ran through the Conference carried into the Awards – a sense of shared progress built on evidence, collaboration and craft. Timber’s role in low-carbon construction has never been more relevant, nor its advocates more united. 

www.structuraltimberconference.co.uk

Specifying Timber Windows: Performance Factors to Consider

When specifying timber windows for an upcoming project, the responsibility lies with building professionals and architects to ensure that the materials and window components meet the aesthetic, material, and performance requirements specified by the client.

With ever-changing requirements and competing specifications, this can be tricky, and as a result, it might mean that what you want your window to be might differ from what is possible. It is important to understand how your window performs and what standards and regulations you need to consider when building your product specification. There are various performance factors that require consideration when building a specification. These include:

• Security Performance

• Thermal Performance

• Acoustic Performance

• Weather Performance

• Safety Performance

• Fire Performance.

It is important to understand that all factors should be considered of equal importance when building your specification to ensure you adhere to building regulations and industry standards. As well as performance, aesthetics and materials also play an important role in establishing your building specification, so all three factors should be considered of equal importance to ensure you build a product that meets the correct standards and regulations.

We have decades of experience working with some of the UK’s leading architects and building professionals, providing guidance and support in building the most complex specifications, to deliver superior customised timber windows and doors for projects of all sizes. We blend detailed design with premium materials and cutting-edge technologies to

ensure our windows and doors are made to the most exacting standards and deliver only exceptional performance. 

www.georgebarnsdale.co.uk/blog/ performance-factors-to-consider-whenspecifying-timber-windows/

CRAFTED OVER TIME

Where others may rush, we prefer to savour time, to refine, to hone, to perfect. When others standardise, we master individuality, providing a truly bespoke service. And where others may stand still, we innovate, invest, and modernise. Every George Barnsdale timber window and door is meticulously made only for you – and has been since 1884. George Barnsdale. Don’t compromise. Customise.

Individuality worth waiting for since 1884. pages.georgebarnsdale.co.uk

Winners Galore

The Structural Timber Awards 2025 once again recognised the fantastic projects and people making the timber sector tick, here is a quick reminder of this year’s worthy winners.

Held at the National Conference Centre (NCC) Birmingham on 1 October, and for the first time co-located with the Structural Timber Conference, the evening served as a gathering point for a diverse array of construction professionals and timber specialists. Representatives from across the structural timber sector came together to celebrate the achievements and innovations that continue to drive the industry forward.

As always, the event provided an invaluable opportunity for networking, collaboration, and recognition, highlighting the best the structural timber industry has to offer, and the contributions made by individuals and teams dedicated to advancing the world of structural timber.

The application of timber technology is evolving rapidly, with architects, engineers, product designers, and specifiers continually discovering innovative ways to utilise this versatile material. Timber remains at the heart of many successful sustainable construction projects, thanks to its unique combination of natural, organic, and aesthetic qualities. These benefits, alongside its structural and architectural strengths, make timber an ideal choice for those seeking both high performance and low carbon solutions.

As the construction industry navigates the complex journey towards a net zero built environment, the increased specification of timber is playing a pivotal role. Its adoption is recognised as a key driver in achieving the ambitious targets for energy efficiency and sustainability, demonstrating that timber technology is not only relevant today but crucial for the future of construction.

This year the Structural Timber Awards were hosted by Lucy Porter, who ensured that the celebrations flowed smoothly and were full of cheeky one liners and was hugely entertaining. With 23 categories, nearly 250 entrants and over 150 companies shortlisted, the judges were set their annual difficult task.

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 2025, what were those outstanding projects and who were those inspiring individuals the judges picked out? Among the

multi-category winners on the night were B&K Structures, Bywater, Gilbert-Ash, Webb Yates, FCB Studios, Engenuiti & Stora Enso for Paradise SE11 and the big winner on the night –Progress in Practice, Bailey Projects and MBC Timber Frame, for Copper Beech Passivhaus Plus – picking up the trophy for Low Energy Project and Timber Frame Project of the Year alongside the all-important Winner of Winners award. You can read more about this project inside this issue.

Importantly, during the evening over £1,300 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.

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The night’s big winners: Progress in Practice, Bailey Projects and MBC Timber Frame for Copper Beech Passivhaus Plus

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 2026 Structural Timber Awards entry platform will be open from February 2026 until the entry deadline – 10 July 2026. 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 2026 and to register your interest to enter your projects and people contact: ellie.guest@radar-media.co.uk

Architect of the Year Architecture Unknown

Engineer of the Year

Engenuiti, Webb Yates and OFR Paradise SE11

Contractor of the Year

Pendragon Design and Build

Former Blaenllynfi School, Caerau, Maesteg

Installer of the Year

Baucon Ireland

Cambridge Railway Station

Product/System Innovation Award

Rotho Blaas UK

Removable Connector for Structural Panels

Client of the Year

PropCo (Peterborough City Council and Anglia Ruskin University)

Anglia Ruskin University, Peterborough, Phase three, The Living Lab

Healthcare Project of the Year

ONE Creative Environments

Tussac House, Extra Care Facility

Supply Chain Partner of the Year

OSKOP

Abbey Hill Academy and College

Manufacturer of the Year

Vistry Works

Vistry Works Warrington, Manufacturing Business Unit

SIPs Project of the Year

SIPS@Clays

Holme House, West Yorkshire - An Accessible SIPs Home

Solid Wood Project of the Year

Oakwrights

Rotherby Manor Custom Build

Education Project of the Year

Fleming Timber Structures

Maybury Primary School, Edinburgh

Structural Timber Awards 2025 – Category Winners

Commercial/Infrastructure Project of the Year

B&K Structures, Bywater, Gilbert-Ash, Webb Yates, FCB Studios, Engenuiti & Stora Enso

Pioneer Award

Stride Treglown

Tai ar y Cyd Pattern Book

Low Energy Project of the Year

Progress in Practice, Bailey Projects and MBC Timber Frame

Copper Beech Passivhaus Plus

Custom & Self Build Project of the Year

Oakwrights

Rotherby Manor Custom Build

Private Housing Project of the Year

Barboza Blanco and Carpenter Oak

Boathouse

Social Housing Project of the Year

Deeside Timberframe

Cloverhill

Retail & Leisure Project of the Year

B&K Hybrid Solutions, Willmott Dixon, GT3 Architects, Engenuiti & Stora Enso

Centre

Project/Construction Manager of the Year

Walker Timber Engineering

Port Loop Development Birmingham for Keon Homes and Midland Heart

Project of the Year

B&K Structures, Bywater, Gilbert-Ash, Webb Yates, FCB Studios, Engenuiti & Stora Enso

Paradise SE11

Timber Frame Project of the Year

Progress in Practice, Bailey Projects and MBC Timber Frame

Copper Beech Passivhaus Plus

A Model for Future Living

One of the multi-category winners at the Structural Timber Awards 2025, and the project hailed as the ‘winner of winners’ was a stylish, timber frame and hugely energy efficient, net zero contemporary home in Salford.

Copper Beech Passivhaus Plus is a three-storey, net zero energy home and the Northwest’s first Passivhaus Plus certified building. Not only judged the ‘winner of winners’ the scheme won the Low Energy Building of the Year and Timber Frame Building of the Year categories. Built using a prefabricated twin stud timber frame, it creates a high performance, thermally continuous envelope, necessary for the delivery of a low impact building.

Designed by architects Progress in Practice and delivered in collaboration with Bailey Projects (both Manchester-based), the use of timber and recycled newspaper insulation, timber cladding and timber windows, saw the building’s embodied carbon exceptionally low at just 261 kgCO2e/m2. Using these natural materials reported a space heating demand of just 13kWh/m2.a. The project surpasses the RIBA 2030 Embodied Carbon target when sequestered carbon is considered and crucially most of these materials can be disassembled and reused to complete a circularity approach.

Situated in Salford, Copper Beech Passivhaus Plus blends traditional materials with sharp modern detailing to create a contemporary home full of character. Designed with future adaptability in mind, the house accommodates evolving needs, with options for wheelchair or lift access. An integrated landscaping strategy sees the introduction of a kitchen garden, pond, orchard and woodland garden, all designed to support biodiversity, wildlife and native species. The home nestles into an established red brick setting and responds sensitively to neighbouring homes through traditional red bricks on the front facade, with contemporary herringbone detailing and rosemary clay tiles.

The rear elevation of the low carbon, timber frame home uses a contrasting approach, with dramatic charred timber cladding.

Living spaces open out onto the courtyard and views of the garden and mature trees have been framed throughout the house to enhance connections with nature. Bluebells in the garden have been retained, with native species, hedgerows and bird boxes encouraging biodiversity and insect life. The building features recycled newspaper insulation, an insulated raft foundation, triple glazing and mechanical ventilation for great air quality, health and comfort.

Copper Beech Passivhaus clients commented: “The benefits of Passivhaus in terms of comfort and economy are simply gobsmacking. I felt the need to write to Octopus after several minus £2 bills to explain that these were not fraudulent but the result of superbly designed and constructed insulation. The constantly stable internal environment is just a joy to live in - a near miracle compared to the freezing, drafty winters and sweaty summers in our previous conventional build.”

Performance matches the beauty. A tiny 5kW air source heat pump, 40 solar panels, careful orientation, high quality construction and duvet like layers of insulation mean the home surpassed stringent energy and air tightness requirements for Passivhaus certification and is now feeding excess energy back into the grid. This also delivers extremely stable temperatures and improved comfort.

“We were so happy and surprised to receive the award for Low Energy Building of the Year at the ST Awards 2025,” said Hannah Dixon, Founder and Director at Progress in Practice. “Our mission is to help spread Passivhaus, low energy design and low carbon construction as

Images 1-5

Copper Beech Passivhaus Plus has used natural materials and energy efficient design to create an award-winning contemporary home. Courtesy Progress in Practice/Alex Dormon Photography

“Built using a prefabricated twin stud timber frame, it creates a high performance, thermally continuous envelope, necessary for the delivery of a low impact building.”

far as possible, so to be recognised in this category genuinely means a lot to us. The subsequent two awards of Timber Frame Building of the Year and ‘Winner of Winners’ really floored us. It felt as though the value of low energy design was being shown to extend beyond just a niche or ‘special interest’, demonstrating that it is important for us all.” 

www.progressinpractice.co.uk www.mbctimberframe.co.uk www.baileyprojects.co.uk

Building a Sustainable Legacy

We caught up with Rob MacKenna, General Manager at James Jones & Sons, as it celebrates 25 years since the opening of its Lockerbie sawmill.

Now one of the most advanced timber processing sites in the UK. What began as a strategic investment in the late 1990s has evolved into a cornerstone of sustainable forestry and innovation that is at the forefront of primary processing and product supply.

“Production forestry has been a great success story for the economy of South Scotland and was an obvious choice of location for the growth of a successful sawmilling business, says Rob. “25 years ago, James Jones & Sons had recently bought Unit Pallets, the first of our pallet manufacturing sites. This market, coupled with the availability at the time of small roundwood and our growth strategy, provided the key drivers for our initial investment and operations at Lockerbie.

“Regional demand for small roundwood has fluctuated over the years, which included the establishment of the biomass market, making roundwood sourcing and supply one of the challenges the mill has faced. Whilst initially designed with the pallet market in mind, Mill 1 at Stevens Croft is a versatile line, and we have been able to switch fibre into fencing and construction products as demands have changed.”

Three phase expansion

From the outset, Lockerbie was built for growth. The site has developed through three distinct phases, each one marking a milestone in capacity, technology, and product diversification. “Each of these phases built on and complemented what had gone before,” says Rob. “Allowing for sustained expansion of production and product ranges. Completion of each of these three phases (still referred to as Lockerbie 1, 2 and 3) have provided the defining milestones for the site. During each phase of development, we were able to staff them with local skilled employees who had been working at established facilities within the business.”

The concept of sustainability, low carbon and environmental concerns have grown a lot in recent years and the company approach to environmental responsibility has reflected this with the Lockerbie site at the forefront of environmental design for an industrial facility of its type, going beyond compliance in many areas. “It was one of the first timber processing sites in the UK to be accredited with ISO14001 Environmental Management

Images 1-2

The Lockerbie site has developed in three distinct phases over the last 25 years

Systems Standard,” adds Rob. “This commitment continues in the ongoing phases of investment and maintenance. In recent years the greater acceptance and awareness of the importance of a low carbon economy have given its operations added significance – trees sequester carbon while they grow, which is then stored in the products we produce at Lockerbie and potentially substitute the use of more highly carbon emitting materials in their end use.”

Alongside the growing awareness of environmental concerns and sustainability, technology and the digital world have transformed the timber industry in recent decades and the Lockerbie site has seen many transformations take place. Rob says: “Developments in industrial safety systems have improved with each phase of the site’s development and allowed us to provide industry leading solutions, from providing operators

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Timber Processing

with the safest access to automated machinery through to bespoke spark and flame detection within machinery. One of the key improvements that has increased the yield of sawn timber and efficiency has been in the quality and application of scanners and optical sensors, allowing data from each individual log to be analysed to produce the highest possible volume of sawn timber.”

Local community impact

Beyond its industrial achievements, Lockerbie has had a profound impact on the local community and economy. As Rob explains, the site employs nearly 200 people, some of whom are second generation and in one instance third generation of local families, so benefits extend far beyond the sawmill gates. “In addition to our employees working on-site, we help support a supply chain, from forest establishment and management right through to harvesting and haulage, as well as local engineering and construction firms. We are engaged in numerous local community projects with charities, schools and one with the joinery workshop in HMP Dumfries.”

What plans are in place for the next 25 years for Lockerbie? While the company’s roots run deep, stretching back over 180 years – and now with

There has been a groundswell of opinion on how best to reframe the specification of C16 and C24 timber in the UK for some time, and in an ‘industry first’, the UK’s three largest sawmillers have come together in a landmark collaboration to encourage greater use of homegrown – and manufactured – timber products.

James Jones & Sons, with BSW Timber and Glennon Brothers recently announced a groundbreaking partnership to promote UK-grown timber and reduce dependence on imported materials. Supported by Confor and Timber Development UK (TDUK), the initiative calls for a more sustainable and economically resilient future for the UK construction sector.

Image 3

L-R Mike Faulkner, Commercial Director, BSW Group, Mike Glennon, Joint MD, Glennon Brothers, Rob MacKenna, General Manager, James Jones & Sons

Image 4

A new joint initiative will promote homegrown UK C16 timber

expanding operations in Australia and New Zealand – Lockerbie remains a central pillar of James Jones & Sons’ operations in the UK. “In that context, 25 years does not seem like a long time,” says Rob. “However, the scale and growth of the facility at Lockerbie have put it at the centre of group operations for this period. There are many opportunities for further investment on the site, as we look to reduce reliance on imported timber and increase the supply of UK grown and manufactured products, but this in turn is reliant on an ongoing commitment to new planting of commercial tree species. The growth of operations at Lockerbie has supported the growth of others within the wider timber industry, both suppliers and customers of our sawn and co-products.” 

www.jamesjones.co.uk

C16 and homegrown timber

Together, James Jones & Sons, BSW Timber and Glennon Brothers – who collectively produce the majority of the UK’s C16 sawn timber – are working with Confor to rebalance supply chains and prioritise domestic production.

“Global demand for timber is projected to rise significantly due to its low-carbon benefits,” says Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive at Confor. “If the UK wants a secure, consistent, and sustainable timber supply, now is the time to invest in our domestic industry. Confor supports this collaboration as a vital step in highlighting the importance of working together to secure the long-term future of UK timber.”

As is often pointed out, C16 timber is suitable for

most standard construction applications, offering strength, versatility, and a lower embodied carbon footprint than many imported alternatives such as the mostly specified C24 timber. This collaboration aligns with the UK Government’s Timber in Construction Roadmap, supporting national goals for decarbonisation, economic growth, and forestry expansion. The joint campaign sets out a clear framework for progress:

Grow: Increase tree planting and replanting to expand productive UK woodlands, securing future timber supply while improving carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and air and water quality.

Manufacture: Harness advanced harvesting and sawmilling technology to maximise the value of UK timber and drive sustainable decarbonisation within construction.

Specify: Encourage architects, engineers, and contractors to specify C16 timber more often, reducing reliance on higher-carbon materials such as concrete, steel, and imported timber.

Build: Utilise the full potential of C16 timber across construction to deliver costeffective, sustainable, and locally beneficial solutions that strengthen the economy and rural employment.

visit spotnails.co.uk

Glulam Structure Solutions

At Buckland Timber we offer 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.

Learning-Led Approach to Expanding Sustainable Homes

The Structural Timber Association (STA) is leading a multi-year effort to grow the use of timber frame construction in England. The ambition is clear – double timber frame’s share of the new homes market in England from 12% to 25% by 2030.

For the STA, it isn’t simply aiming for growth in numbers. It’s taking a methodical approach, focused on education, industry collaboration, and practical know-how. At the heart of this is a new programme – the Timber Frame Learning Journey.

Instead of relying on slideshows and theoretical pitches, the STA has launched a hands-on experience designed to change minds and build confidence. The Timber Frame Learning Journey takes homebuilders and stakeholders to Scotland, where 92% of new homes already use timber frame. These trips show, in real-time, how timber frame delivers faster build times, lower carbon output, and improves quality, in a cost effective and sustainable way.

Showing, not telling

The first trip took place in October 2025, with 28 attendees including homebuilders, Homes England, banks, stakeholders, sponsors and STA staff. A second journey is already planned for early 2026, with strong interest. Delegates tour the full supply chain – from managed forests and sawmills – through engineered timber factories and onto live housing sites. Andrew Orriss, CEO of the STA, puts it plainly: “Scotland is years ahead. This isn’t a future plan. It’s happening now. We wanted developers to see what’s possible.”

The Learning Journey is backed by organisations across the timber and housing sectors, including Future Homes Hub, West Fraser, PEFC UK, Hundegger and Swedish Wood. It also supports the delivery of the government’s Future Homes Standard, increasing housing output and aligns with national net zero targets.

The trips are not just show-and-tell. They’re also backed with followup support for the homebuilders attending including 12 months of STA membership, access to technical guidance, and ongoing advice. As

Richard Lankshear from Future Homes Hub explained, “We’re focused on sharing lessons from real projects that are already delivering all-electric, low carbon homes at scale.”

Timber Frame Hub and industry collaboration

Alongside the learning journeys, the STA has launched the Homebuilders Timber Frame Hub. This brings together the UK’s top 15 homebuilders to share knowledge, identify

“Timber frame is proven, reliable and scalable, offering many benefits – speed, quality, and low carbon, but with less risk and established supply chains. The STA’s approach recognises this. It’s about meeting developers where they are, helping them make a step-change, not a leap.”

barriers, and co-ordinate efforts. Eight of these firms are now actively investing in timber frame, representing around 78,000 new homes built each year, or 78% of the total homes built by the group.

Early Hub meetings have tackled key themes like fire safety, embodied carbon, design, and transitioning from masonry to timber frame. The goal is to identify and solve common issues in a practical and collaborative way, benefiting the whole market.

The first meeting identified 21 common issues. Through an online survey these have been prioritised, and an action plan is being prepared address the top three issues identified so far. These include improving fire performance data, understanding thermal performance, and supporting smoother change management when moving from traditional builds to timber frame.

This growth strategy is being delivered through a series of structured projects. A further three sub-projects are underway, to add to the two above, with all projects fully funded and resourced for delivery during 2026. These include:

• A new digital guide, ‘Where to Start’ developed with Swedish Wood and TDUK

• A digital platform for thermal detailing

• Continuing professional development (CPD) modules tailored to support housebuilding roles, transition to timber frame.

Each project is designed with one aim in mind – to make it easier for homebuilders of all sizes, tenures and contractual makeups understand and adopt timber frame.

Proven, reliable and scalable offsite

The STA is supporting housing innovation and industrialisation through proven offsite solutions. While modular construction has dominated headlines, it’s faced major setbacks. Timber frame is proven, reliable and scalable, offering many benefits – speed, quality, and low carbon, but

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The Learning Journeys see delegates tour the full supply chain – from managed forests and sawmills – through engineered timber factories and housing sites

with less risk and established supply chains. The STA’s approach recognises this. It’s about meeting developers where they are, helping them make a step-change, not a leap. That’s why Cat 2 panelised timber frame systems and offsite manufacturing are key focus areas. Driving growth means backing it with quality. The STA Assure programme ensures members meet high standards through regular audits and training. It’s recognised by major warranty providers including NHBC, LABC Warranty and Premier Guarantee. From design to site assembly, STA Assure makes it easier for developers to trust timber frame systems and suppliers.

A long-term commitment

What sets the STA’s growth project apart is its balance between ambition and realism. It isn’t about flashy announcements. It’s about bringing homebuilders along on a journey, through factory tours, technical support, peer learning and proven solutions that work. Timber frame construction is not new. But in England, its potential is still untapped. With the right guidance and support, that’s starting to change. As more homebuilders take part in the learning journey, adopt new tools, and share experiences through the Timber Frame Hub, this steady, informed approach will help fuel the shift the housing industry needs. 

Upgrading to the next level – literally

FRIES, one of Germany’s leading wholesalers of wood and floor coverings has taken logistics at its Kiel HQ to the next level. By installing a storage platform, the company can now make full use of the ceiling height in the existing hall.

The result is a usable area of around 270sq m on the second level, at a height of 3.8m, where bulky pallets of insulation material are stored in blocks. This created space for a new work area, thereby avoiding the need to construct an additional hall.

Measuring 2.4m high with a volume of 3.5 cubic metres, the pallets containing the insulation material posed a challenge in terms of storage, not because of their weight but because of their dimensions. Previously, FRIES stored the pallets in a cantilever racking system whose cantilevers were designed for 2m panels, which significantly limited storage capacity.

FRIES therefore decided to add a second level to the existing hall, thereby significantly expanding the storage capacity for insulation material and improving storage conditions. The flexibility of this freestanding steel structure allows it to be

easily adapted to individual requirements on-site.

OHRA designed a storage platform in which the payload and the positioning of the stairs and the goods transfer point were individually adapted to the conditions in the existing hall. The storage platform itself offers an area measuring 33.8m x 8m, with a load capacity of 1,000 kilograms per square metre – more than enough for storing the relatively light insulation pallets. The platform supports are arranged in a 5m x 4m grid, with a clearance height of 3.5m between the floor and the bottom edge of the structure, creating a spacious, flexible workspace underneath the platform. The floor covering of the platform consists of chipboard panels with a white lacquered underside.

Together with good lighting and generous headroom, this provides a comfortable, pleasant working space for employees working

under the platform. This means that space utilisation in the FRIES hall has truly reached a new level. The storage platform made it possible to create an additional work area without having to build a new hall. The storage capacity gained on the stage area is used as efficiently as possible in the form of block storage. The old cantilever racking is still in use and is now used to store goods that need to be accessed individually and are therefore not suitable for block storage. 

www.ohra.co.uk

Skills Development

Reshaping the UK’s Sustainable Future

As Steve Bertasso, Associate Professor at NMITE illustrates, skills development in timber construction has become a vital part of the UK’s wider sustainability efforts.

Once regarded as a specialised niche, timber is now at the heart of the shift towards low-carbon, modern methods of construction (MMC). As the industry advances, so must the skills of the workforce. Institutions like New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering (NMITE) and its Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) are ensuring education stays in step – linking sustainability, engineering, and practical craftsmanship.

The growing importance of timber skills

The UK’s sustainability education landscape is rapidly expanding. Courses on carbon literacy, circular economy principles, and green building standards are common, but timber remains underrepresented in sustainability education, presenting a unique opportunity for sector growth. Understanding how wood behaves, how engineered timber products perform, and how supply chains link forest to fabrication is essential for future-ready designers, engineers, and builders.

Timber-focused skills are part of the wider sustainability ecosystem but require a deeper understanding of timber literacy and emerging product knowledge. While sustainability courses cover principles of embodied carbon and energy efficiency, timber-specific courses include design detailing, moisture performance, structural systems, and offsite manufacturing principles to develop comprehensive expertise. NMITE plays a vital role between emerging research and trade groups seeking courses to upskill for a more sustainable building market. As a Skills Hub training provider for STA members, NMITE delivers sector-specific education to help expand the workforce needed to meet the UK’s net-zero targets.

A changing skills landscape

Timber provides both opportunities and challenges. While its environmental benefits and performance potential are well documented, the skills required to design, manufacture, and construct effectively with timber are still developing across the sector. From digital modelling and offsite fabrication to installation and lifecycle assessment, the industry needs education pathways that are practical, accredited, and aligned with modern sustainability goals.

As MMC adoption and the net zero agenda accelerate, education providers and industry bodies must collaborate to close this skills gap –ensuring the workforce is equipped not only to work confidently with timber but also to apply sustainable thinking across all parts of construction. Building this integrated skill set is crucial to fulfilling the ambitions outlined in the UK’s Timber in Construction Roadmap and broader green-skills strategy.

NMITE: educators at the forefront

NMITE plays a vital role here, bridging the gap between new research and practical applications of new building strategies in timber. CATT in Hereford is changing how higher education supports the timber industry. Through its Timber Technology, Engineering and Design (Timber TED) and retrofit courses, groundbreaking timber research, and the recent launch of a timber-focused BSc (HON) in Construction Management, NMITE provides flexible, industry-approved training for professionals and new entrants to the sector.

Developed in partnership with Timber Development UK (TDUK) and Edinburgh Napier University, the Timber TED courses combine academic rigour with hands-on learning. Each short course covers areas

such as sustainability, materials science, design principles, and construction techniques. This industry-guided content addresses the growing skills needs and informs the new degree programme, ensuring students enter the workforce prepared for the constantly evolving landscape of sustainable construction.

NMITE’s broader ‘learning by doing’ philosophy aligns with the building industry’s preference for action-based education methods. Participants apply sustainable design principles directly to real-world projects, demonstrating either opportunities for improvement or examples of future-focused design.

“As MMC adoption and the net zero agenda accelerate, education providers and industry bodies must collaborate to close this skills gap – ensuring the workforce is equipped not only to work confidently with timber but also to apply sustainable thinking across all parts of construction.”

Researching the future – from forest to frame

The Building from English Woodlands research exemplifies realworld initiatives in education. Completed in early 2025, this project examined how underused English-grown timber species can help meet the UK’s construction demands. By connecting forestry, supply chains, and structural applications, the project is shifting perceptions of homegrown timber as a valuable natural building resource, with an example already in practice.

The Skills Hub at NMITE’s Blackfriars campus is a mass timber building constructed from glulam beams and prefabricated panels, providing a sustainable construction solution. The structure, already used in CPD and degree-level teaching as a live example, features a hybrid beam made with local materials based on recent research (English Ash and Scottish Spruce). The hybrid design strategically uses hardwoods to maximise strength while reducing overall resource consumption and embodied carbon, without compromising performance.

A call for continued collaboration

For professionals seeking to improve their sustainability credentials, timber skills education now presents a logical next step. Whether you’re

Images 1-3 NMITE’s broader ‘learning by doing’ philosophy aligns with the building industry’s preference for actionbased education methods

an architect exploring low-carbon materials, an engineer transitioning to MMC, or a contractor aiming to diversify into offsite manufacture, emerging programmes like NMITE’s Timber TED offer a pathway that links theory with practice.

The UK’s timber future depends on collaboration between industry, educators, and policymakers. The industry, working through organisations like the STA, identifies training gaps in the workforce: educators, such as NMITE, research and develop new typologies and create the learning infrastructure and the broader sustainability community ensures that the principles of low-carbon design support every stage of development.

Timber-skills development is increasingly vital to the UK’s sustainable construction strategy. It connects craftsmanship and innovation, aligns forest management with building design, and offers practical avenues for professionals to help achieve a net zero future. As an advocate for continuous improvement in education, the timber-skills agenda exemplifies what modern sustainability learning should be: hands-on, collaborative, and rooted in real-world impact. Through the combined efforts of organisations like NMITE, TDUK, and the industry, the UK is building not only with timber – but with knowledge, resilience, and purpose. 

www.nmite.ac.uk

Bridging the Skills Gap

The construction industry is facing an unprecedented challenge when it comes to skills. Alex Goodfellow, CEO at Donaldson Offsite, explains how Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS) is using targeted training to address the crisis.

With experienced tradespeople retiring faster than they can be replaced and school leavers drawn to careers elsewhere, the skills and labour gap is widening at an alarming rate.

According to CITB figures, the construction industry needs to bring in more than 280,000 new workers over the next three years just to keep up and build the government target of 1.5 million much-needed new homes. That’s a huge ask – especially in a market where skilled labour is already in short supply.

The scale of the skills challenge requires solutions that go beyond traditional recruitment. We all need to think outside the box for this –developing partnerships between industry and education, creating roles that inspire young people, and pushing initiatives that attract talent from other sectors to create the diverse, multi-skilled workforce the industry desperately needs. The future success of housing depends not just on filling vacancies, but on fundamentally rethinking who works in the industry and what skills they bring.

The changing face of timber careers

Walk into a modern timber frame facility today and you’ll encounter roles that didn’t exist a decade ago – from sustainability managers analysing lifecycle carbon impacts, to digital specialists overseeing automated production lines. These emerging industry ‘personas’ represent a major shift.

Technology is advancing rapidly, with increasing digitisation and AI adoption transforming manufacturing roles, while more technologically advanced robotics and machinery are changing the skills and expertise the sector requires.

Last year we invested more than £10million in robotics and performance upgrades at our factory in Oxfordshire, to expand capacity and technical capabilities for more advanced, energy-efficient buildings.

When we upgraded the factory, we changed our recruitment strategy. As well as hiring colleagues with timber experience, we also actively looked to hire people with a background in the automotive and engineering sectors. These cross-sector recruits bring fresh perspectives and transferable skills that enhance team capabilities, create efficiencies, and ultimately increase production capacity. It also enabled us to redeploy some of our skilled people to more value-added roles, increasing personal growth and development opportunities.

The increased automation created by the new robotics has reduced the manual labour required on the factory floor, which has also made our manufacturing technician positions less physically demanding. The knock-on effect is that factory experience has changed beyond recognition, making it a more attractive proposition for a wider range of people looking for a place to work.

Attracting a new generation

Looking inside and outside the sector has been core to our strategy over recent years in a bid to attract a wider range of skills and applicants. In 2022, we developed a training initiative for contracts supervisors and managers to attract younger employees into contract management roles. The programme takes them through a series of experiences to understand timber frame manufacturing, particularly the site management side of the business. Six individuals have since been through this programme, bringing diverse perspectives and new skills.

We’ve also had great results with strategic educational partnerships. Since 2018, the DTS team has collaborated with West Herts College, supporting the Level 2 Site Carpentry & MMC apprenticeship course, creating a bespoke programme specifically designed for timber frame construction.

The partnership extends far beyond theoretical learning. We provide hands-on workshops and have constructed a timber frame demonstration unit at the college, allowing students to see, touch, and interact with the materials and techniques they’ll use in their careers. This multi-sensory approach – combining audible, vocational, kinetic, and visual teaching methods – maximises engagement and retention.

The results speak for themselves: a 100% success rate with all apprentices completing the course and securing employment. The 2.5year programme combines four days of on-site work experience with one day of college-based learning, including specialised MMC modules covering construction technology, health and safety, and timber frame build systems.

These initiatives represent more than just training programmes – they’re investments in the industry’s future. The ability to enhance learners’ understanding of timber frame and MMC creates a win-win situation for all stakeholders.

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Skills, training and recruitment policies for the timber sector are undergoing huge changes

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DTS has invested more than £10million in robotics and performance upgrades at its Witney factory

Taking control

Improving learning is important not just for our people, but also for our customers. To understand how to get the most out of offsite timber frame, housebuilders and contractors must also be fully equipped with knowledge and capability.

In recognition of this, we’ve recently launched a bespoke online training programme to develop a workforce capable of building using offsite timber frame. It spans every discipline – from design and technical through to commercial and construction – and is designed to help our customers unlock timber frame’s full potential: reduced costs, faster build times, and superior performance.

With backing from CITB’s Industry Impact Fund, this industry-first initiative addresses a critical need. For housebuilders and contractors looking to transition to timber frame, the knowledge gap can be daunting. By opening up our expertise through this programme, we’re not just training individuals – we’re helping to build capacity across the sector and accelerate the industry’s shift towards more efficient, sustainable building methods.

Ultimately, the future of timber frame construction – and the wider housing sector – depends on the skills, confidence, and commitment of the people who deliver it. By working together, we can raise the whole sector –closing the skills gap, accelerating timber frame adoption and building the workforce and homes of the future that we so desperately need. 

www.donaldsontimbersystems.com

Structural Engineering

Has Mass Timber Become Marmite?

Andy Heyne, Founding Director at Heyne Tillett Steel, picks out some of the key arguments that divide current opinion most, and offers some thoughts about how to converge and create consensus on its use.

This year I celebrated my thirtieth year as a structural design engineer in London, more recently focusing in the commercial office sector for private developers in London. Structurally projects tend to either be majority retrofit with large lateral or vertical extensions, or wholesale new buildings, the balance perhaps shifting towards the former with the drive to lower carbon and ‘retrofit-first’ policies increasingly being introduced by local planning authorities.

Appetite and opportunity to use mass timber has always waxed and waned since the dawn of commercial availability, but ironically now, as we have increased lived experience and many examples of award-winning completed buildings, the tidal swing of split opinions is greatest. Has timber become marmite?

“Timber costs more, and in difficult economic times where margins are squeezed, any extra cannot be justified.” This ‘premium/delta’ is perhaps less than people think and needs market testing with early supply-chain input to ensure accuracy. Also, other benefits of timber are not always considered holistically alongside, such as reduced programme, substructure or strengthening (when adding floors) savings, or even increased value/let-ability. Our homework is to make sure we accurately quantify the cost of these wider benefits and build them into any appraisal for timber frame.

“Insurance is harder to obtain and significantly more expensive.” We must be honest – timber buildings do have a higher risk profile, less so a fire issue now with specialist fire engineers, established detailing and largescale testing. However, sadly it is clear many roofs leak regardless of structure, yet timber is more susceptible to water and so claims resulting from water damage requiring timber repair are on the rise. In my experience, leaks occur more in-service (poorly installed and maintained pipework, and roof finish failures) than during construction. Where water management strategies are now established, they have better continuity when passed from timber specialist to main contractor. In response, during design we now have a range of both passive and active risk mitigation measures we discuss on each project with the team (moisture sensors, shallow slopes, weepholes etc), balancing risk against capex

and design impact. We are yet to see how these perform specifically, as most now-leaky timber roofs were conceived prior to this level of consideration, and our current strategy is now to offer timber roofs as a solution alongside others, but not to pro-actively encourage them, at least until we have regained confidence that the mitigation is working.

“Lower carbon costs more/gives me no commercial benefit.” There is currently not enough regulation to force, or financial incentive to encourage, developers to pursue mass timber. In such difficult economic times this is probably correct, even if the drive to net zero will regrettably slow in the short-term, as any regulatory tightening would result in less projects progressing to site. However, with hoped improved conditions in the not-toodistant future, lower carbon will undoubtably provide a calculable commercial advantage, whether through planning concessions, increased rent/let-ability with more progressive tenants, or perhaps a lower cost of carbon offsetting to finally and legitimately label buildings ‘net-zero’. You heard it here –commoditisation of stored carbon, the new global currency!

Image 1

3 Copper Square, Brent Cross – a new 14-storey office building constructed with a hybrid of precast concrete frame and CLT panels, making it the first of its kind

Image 2

Timber Square extends a 1950s former printworks alongside a 15-storey new building using a hybrid steel and CLT structure

Image 3

Xylo, the UK’s largest all-timber frame office building, with a ninestorey superstructure using glulam beams and CLT slabs

“Mass timber is not cool anymore – it’s a tired and overdone aesthetic. Where before it was trendy and ‘insurgent’, is it now commonplace and ‘incumbent’.” Are we all less excited about it now? When faced with any negativity or challenge, combined with a weakened carbon incentive, are we perhaps less likely to have sufficient critical mass of conviction to drive it through as a solution? I understand the sentiment here, perhaps as mass timber was once touted as a panacea or ‘silver bullet’ that feels like it never quite fulfilled its potential, but I honestly believe its popularity will re-emerge when better economic conditions are restored.

So how can we remain positive about the prospects of widescale mass timber usage in commercial buildings across the UK? For people like me, who for the past 20 years have been on the stop-start mass timber ‘train’, this feels like just another obstacle on the tracks. The onestep-back after two-steps-forwards.

We’ve been here before, and I suspect we’ll be here again – the obstacle will be removed, because we have learned to remain agile and creative, to adapt and find solutions, technical and political. And frankly we have no choice, because the impending climate catastrophe is not going away, and large-scale mass timber buildings are one of the most potent counter-weapons in our arsenal… oh and I really don’t like marmite! 

Embedding Supply Chain Confidence

SCA Wood have a long history of providing Swedish sawn timber products across the world and innovating its manufacturing and timber processing methods, to find out more about this and UK market dynamics, we

spoke to SCA Wood UK’s Managing Director Camilla Fish

There are many challenges currently facing the timber supply chain including developments in technology, forest practices and various policy changes. Understanding these challenges – in what has been a difficult few trading years for the sector – has not stifled SCA Products UK strong growth ambitions and SCA have retained a strong market share. “The desire is to maintain this but also increase our customer base and expand into new market segments,” says Camilla. “The introduction of a new species, Nordic Lodgepole Pine, offers an exciting opportunity to broaden our offering. SCA’s forest holdings of this species will continue to grow over the coming years, and we feel the UK is well suited as a market for this product.

“One challenge in the market is that the availability of pine and spruce is now largely equal. Pine offers at least the same level of quality as spruce, even though the British market has traditionally been more familiar with spruce for construction purposes. We have also seen an erosion of the pine market over previous years, with the share of alternative products such as MDF and composite products having increased significantly.”

Extensive expertise

SCA Wood has a strong vertical integration through its forestry, sawmills and logistics network and for the UK, it has extensive and efficient shipping systems in place, that is well understood, allowing a competitive and reliable delivery solution. “The benefit of owning our own forest holdings has never been more evident than over the past 12-18 months,” says Camilla. “The well publicised high log costs, and lack of availability in spruce logs was challenging for all sawmills. However, with an integrated supply chain – where 50% of supply comes from SCA’s

own forests – we have been able to maintain regular supply. Consistency and reliability are key requirements for UK customers, especially in a subdued market where quality, continuity of supply, and dependable service are highly valued. By leveraging our vertical integration, from sustainable forest management through to final delivery, we can support and prioritise our customers own operational efficiency and customer commitments.”

The timber supply chain has suffered a lot of volatility in recent years and from that perspective how is the UK and European timber market performing in terms of material demands, delivery volumes and pricing? Although the market has seen a steady period of adjustment, have material demands, delivery volumes and pricing changed significantly?

“Demand across the UK and wider European markets has been relatively subdued, particularly in the construction sector, where higher interest rates and slower housing starts have had an impact,” says Camilla. “But we are seeing early signs of stabilisation, with inventories across the supply chain normalising and a more balanced relationship emerging between supply and demand. From a material perspective, there remains good underlying demand for consistent, high-quality Nordic timber, particularly for structural and joinery applications.

“Customers are increasingly focused on reliability, quality, and sustainability rather than short-term price movements, which aligns well with SCA’s strengths as a long-term, fully integrated producer. The extreme peaks and troughs of pricing seen over the past few years have eased, and prices have stabilised. Delivery volumes are steady, both in the UK and across Europe. Overall, we see a more measured and sustainable market environment developing, where the emphasis is firmly on partnership, consistency, and long-term value.”

“The use of more timber in construction generally is a message we all support. However, demand in the short and medium terms far outstrips the capabilities of homegrown supply. Significant increases in planting across the UK are necessary to have any impact on this.”

Healthy construction

With UK domestic timber supply set to become more strategically important via the Timber in Construction Roadmap’s priority themes, it is interesting to hear how a business such as SCA fits into the burgeoning dynamic of the UK attempting to reduce imports, within the parameters of carbon footprint of imports, versus domestic supply.

“The use of more timber in construction generally is a message we all support,” says Camilla. “However, demand in the short and medium terms far outstrips the capabilities of homegrown supply. Significant increases in planting across the UK are necessary to have

any impact on this. Additionally, the features and quality of slow-grown, Scandinavian timber are essential for many of the end uses, so we see that the requirement will still be strong for products like these.

“We also see that SCA fits into the UK’s strategic dynamic by providing reliably sourced, sustainable timber that meets the high environmental standards required by the Roadmap and supporting the broader objectives of decarbonisation and sustainable construction. Some of its key requirements are that all timber, regardless of whether domestically produced or imported, must be sustainably produced and certified. SCA’s operations are firmly aligned with these requirements, and we consistently emphasise the sustainability of our products. Our Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) map the climate footprint of sawn timber from forest to customer. This transparency helps the UK construction industry choose low-carbon materials and meet the Roadmap’s priority of improving data on timber and whole life carbon. Ultimately, we see that there is space for both domestic and Swedish timber in the UK and support any initiatives that encourage and drive the use of more timber in construction as it strengthens the demand for timber will benefit all of us.”

Given emerging trends in construction and the popularity of offsite timber systems – several volume housebuilders have brought timber frame operation in-house e.g. Barratt Redrow and Oregon Timber Frame – how does SCA Wood UK positioning itself in this changing timber dynamic?

“The growth of offsite timber systems and timber frame construction creates a need for consistent, high-quality timber,” says Camilla. “SCA can provide the level of reliability, accuracy, and flexibility that modern construction methods require, delivering predictable volumes that allow customers to plan production and assembly with confidence. We also see opportunities to support innovation in the sector. As robotics and automated manufacturing become more widespread in timber frame operations, the demand for uniform, high-specification materials will only increase.

“Ultimately, our strategy is to combine sustainably sourced, certified timber with responsive, reliable supply and a strong customer focus. This positions SCA as a trusted partner for UK builders and manufacturers navigating the shift towards industrialised, offsite, and automated construction methods.” 

www.sca.com/en/wood/sca-products-uk-ltd

Thinking Inside the Square

Peter Fisher, Director at Bennetts Associates, explores the design and material decisions behind London’s ambitious new campus at Timber Square.

When Landsec set the brief for Timber Square in 2019, it was unusually clear. The design was to prioritise reuse, visibly reversible structural joints and biogenic materials. These principles shaped an architecture that is materially honest, low-carbon and practical to deliver – a model for how mainstream commercial projects can adopt timber at scale.

Located in Bankside, close to Tate Modern, Timber Square is a mixed-use redevelopment comprising two buildings – a partially retained, refurbished and extended former 1950s printworks (the Print Building) and a new 15-storey building (the Ink Building). Forming a new sequence of public spaces between them, the two buildings total around 380,000sq ft, including 365,000 of office space plus retail, leisure and support uses. Together they form an ensemble that unites reuse, innovation and wellbeing within the dense fabric of central London.

Architectural vision and how mass timber shaped it

Bennetts Associates architectural ambition was to achieve a characterful authenticity that echoed the expedience of the area’s industrial past. Here, that pragmatism is reinterpreted through carbon discipline and material restraint: an exposed structure, minimal applied finishes and honesty about how things are made. The decision to use mass timber was fundamental to this vision. Instead of concealing the structure behind layers of material, the design reveals it. The existing concrete frame is retained and extended; the new building is expressed through a hybrid steel and cross laminated timber frame (CLT). The result is a calm and legible architecture where joints and materials are part of the language.

This restraint has environmental and human benefits. By minimising finishes, the design avoids visual noise and unnecessary complexity, creating workplaces that feel comfortable and intuitive. Natural materials, light and planting all contribute to a quieter sensory environment. The same decisions that reduce carbon also support

wellbeing, producing buildings that are calmer and easier to understand.

Design and structural ambitions enabled by the hybrid approach

Timber’s lightness unlocked the potential of the retained printworks. Its foundations, designed for heavy presses, could carry four additional storeys without significant strengthening. A lightweight steel truss with CLT floor planks reduced the overall structural weight by about a quarter compared with a conventional concrete frame. The hybrid approach also enabled reversible connections, modular assembly and a high degree of prefabrication.

Commercial Developments

The benefits were equally visible during construction. A concrete delivery truck typically carries about six cubic metres of material – each truckload of CLT arrived with 45 cubic metres of prefabricated planks. Temporary edge protection was screwed into each plank while still on the truck bed, meaning the panels could be lifted directly into place with the protection already fitted – a sequence that was quiet, safe and efficient. On both buildings the steel primary structure has beams at 6m centres, with 12m-long CLT planks spanning between. These are simply supported and not acting compositely, which aided construction as well as future adaptability.

To build confidence at this scale, Landsec funded full-scale fire tests of a structural bay for each of the two buildings. Developed with the project team and insurers, the tests validated the hybrid system’s fire performance and should help to establish benchmarks for future schemes. While the scheme pre-dated the ‘Mass Timber Insurance Playbook’, the process closely mirrored the methodology later set out within it, providing evidence-based reassurance to the client and underwriters alike. That willingness to test, prove and share data has been as important as the design itself in moving the sector forward.

Carbon benefits, wellbeing and longterm performance

The combined effect of reuse and hybrid construction has significantly reduced the scheme’s upfront carbon compared with a typical London office. Altogether, around 6,500 cubic metres of CLT have been installed, sequestering about 5,000 tonnes of CO₂. The scheme’s upfront emissions are in the process of being verified with as-built data and are on target to reach around 500 kilograms of CO₂ per square metre (Modules A1–A5).

The resulting structure is an efficient, adaptable framework that achieves strength, lightness and circularity in equal measure, yet its long-term performance will be judged not only in the resourceful use of materials but also in the quality of space it provides.

Timber’s natural texture and scent create a sense of warmth rarely found in large office buildings. Daylight, muted colour and planting on every level bring a biophilic calm that benefits concentration and comfort. These choices align with research on neurodiversity and sensory wellbeing, showing that legible, coherent spaces are easier to navigate and less likely to cause fatigue. In this sense, environmental efficiency and human wellbeing reinforce one another rather than compete.

Lessons for scaling timber in the UK

Timber Square shows that large-scale timber projects are now possible within today’s commercial, regulatory and insurance frameworks. Landsec’s early engagement with insurers and willingness to test full bays in controlled conditions have created precedents from which others can benefit. Each major project adds to a collective body of evidence that will inform and support the success of future developments.

Scaling timber in the UK will depend on this kind of open collaboration between clients, designers, manufacturers and insurers. While technical challenges are largely resolved, confidence still grows through experience. Every truck that carries more material with less disruption, every plank that lifts cleanly into place, and every

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When complete Timber Square will become one of the UK’s largest CLT commercial developments

Courtesy Bennetts Associates/Alex Wroe

Photography

space that brings character and delight to the everyday brings the industry closer to routine acceptance of timber as a mainstream structural material.

Timber Square is, in that sense, a collaborative exercise in how to make progress responsibly. It combines three imperatives that are reshaping construction: reuse before rebuild, biogenic materials before extraction and verification before assumption. Timber Square is due for completion in Q1 2026 and is currently by volume set to be the UK’s largest CLT commercial development and has the tallest hybrid frame. Its architectural clarity and technical discipline show that low-carbon design can be commercially viable and human in character. Timber is not an alternative material but a better and more human way to build. 

www.bennettsassociates.com https://landsec.com

In prefabrication, even a millimetre of error means lost time.

RING turns the joint into a strength: a removable connector, installable from one side only, designed to correct misalignments and ensure exceptional structural performance. A system created for those who design with industrial logic and build with artisan precision.

Specify the Gold Standard

5,000 linear metres of SR Timbers’ graded PREMIUM GOLD® roofing batten have been used in the recent refurbishment of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Leeds. Built in 1890, the distinguished Victorian building is one of the city’s oldest and most recognisable landmarks.

The slate reroof was part of a wider renovation with NRA Roofing & Flooring Services appointed by main contractor Clegg Construction, to carry out this sensitive yet technically demanding roof replacement. The project’s scope included the complete removal of the existing slate covering and its reinstatement using high-grade natural materials, carefully selected to replicate the original detailing while meeting modern performance standards.

AccuRoof – the specification division within SIG Roofing – assisted with the selection of roofing products. The new roof was created using a breather membrane from Permavent, graded Premium Gold roofing battens from SR Timber, and premium-grade Spanish Slate SIGA 112s for durability and aesthetics from SIG Roofing.

The SR Timber PREMIUM GOLD® roofing batten was specified as it meets the specifications outlined in BS 8417:2011+A1:2014 (preservation of timber) and is graded according to BS 5534:2014+A2:2018. Additionally, it is one of the few battens that has passed assessment by the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI). The CCPI assists in the process of clarity for anyone purchasing construction materials like graded timber batten. It is driving the industry to a point where all product information provided by manufacturers, merchants or distributors is clear, accurate, accessible, up-to-date, and unambiguous. It gives buyers an increased confidence in the purchasing process.

The graded timber roofing batten provided support for 16,000 SIGA 112S Spanish slates, which were used on the project, a like-for-like slate ideal for the heritage roof. The SIGA 112s Spanish slate was sourced from the Leon Region of Spain. It is a smooth, dark blue/grey slate available in two thicknesses 5mm and 7mm, and numerous sizes. Due to its similarity to slates produced in the Vale of Ffestiniog, the SIGA 112s have been awarded Snowdonia National Park approval.

The result is a re-roofed structure that honours the past and secures the future, exemplifying true heritage craftsmanship. Shaun Revill, Trading Director for SR Timber said: “It is always great to see our PREMIUM GOLD® graded roofing batten being used on such a prestigious project. It was proposed for this project by the team at AccuRoof, who focus on ensuring compliance when specifying roofing products, so that the contractor NRA Roofing was assured of the performance and quality of the batten supplied.

“In a volatile timber market, we have seen lower quality batten enter the UK market, posing risks to both safety and performance. We do not want to see timber’s reputation as a sustainable and reliable construction material be damaged by cutting corners to focus on the lowest price and an increasing usage of ungraded roofing batten. It has become our

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SR Timber’s PREMIUM GOLD® roofing batten is one of the few battens that has passed CCPI assessment

“In a volatile timber market, we have seen lower quality batten enter the UK market, posing risks to both safety and performance. We do not want to see timber’s reputation as a sustainable and reliable construction material be damaged by cutting corners.”

mantra to ensure we promote the importance of only using quality timber batten, graded according to BS 5534.

“Prestigious projects like this one at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Leeds are great examples of reputable roofing contractors ensuring they use the best possible roofing materials. The Yorkshire-based slaters from NRA Roofing leveraged extensive experience working on this project. They tackled challenging features, like the curved slating on the front elevation, which is an intricate and labour-intensive task that involved careful planning with string lines, precise grading and sorting of slates, adjusting batten spacing, and shaping each slate to recreate this design element. Well done NRA Roofing and thank you for choosing SR Timber PREMIUM GOLD® roofing batten for the project.” 

www.sr-timber.co.uk

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At Buckland Timber, we're often asked why clients choose glulam over steel, or whether we can offer a viable glulam alternative to a steel design. While sustainability is undoubtedly growing in importance, I'd be lying if I said carbon footprint is the primary reason clients come to us. Aesthetics and the creation of inspiring working environments remain the biggest factors. There's something about exposed timber that transforms a space – it's not just about how it looks, but how it makes people feel. The wellbeing benefits of natural materials in our built environment are increasingly recognised, and that's often what initially tips the scales towards glulam, that and the ‘statement structure’ factor.

A cost comparison

There’s a persistent perception that glulam is significantly more expensive than steel, which isn’t always the case. Taking a simple beam with no fabrication, a typical 6m beam – a 254 x 146 x 37 UB steel section costs £200-£300 based on recent pricing, while an equivalent 180 x 360 glulam beam sits in the £250-£300 range. The upfront material costs are quite similar.

For fabricated structures, the picture is a bit different – a portal frame shed in steel typically costs around £125 per square metre. Our most budget-friendly glulam options come in at £150-£200 per square metre. Yes, it is more, but the margin’s far narrower than many assume. Where glulam gains ground over steel is in the ‘hidden’ costs. Steel beams typically require additional site work – boarding over, adding joists, and crucially, fire protection coatings. Glulam has its own inherent fire rating and is easier to cut and work with on-site, plus if you opt for locally grown timber, you cut down on transportation costs. These factors can narrow or even reverse any initial price gap.

The policy landscape

Of course, even with cost certainty, broader policy signals can shape whether clients feel confident choosing timber over steel, which leads me to the Timber in Construction Roadmap. It is welcome and well-intentioned,

Glulam vs Steel

As we approach 2026, the conversation around glulam versus steel in construction continues to evolve. Robin Nicholson, Managing Director at Buckland Timber, outlines some of the drivers to timber adoption.

promoting timber for its carbon storage benefits, linking it to the 1.5 million homes target, and more encouraging timber in offsite construction.

However, I remain pragmatic about its short-term impact. The Roadmap operates through policies, standards and guidance rather than mandates or direct financial grants or subsidies for timber construction projects. There are no penalties for choosing steel or masonry over timber, and no financial disincentives for high-carbon material choices. Without meaningful regulatory teeth, I don't expect dramatic market shifts in 2026. The direction of travel is positive, but the pace of change will be gradual.

cost-competitive with steel, particularly when you factor in the whole-life picture. Whether a client's primary motivation is aesthetic, financial, or environmental – or a combination of all three – we aim to provide the confidence to make informed material choices.

When comparing glulam to steel, it’s important to avoid all-or-nothing thinking. Most of our glulam structures incorporate steel fixings, connections, and complementary elements. Successful projects blend glulam, CLT, steel, and other materials where each makes sense. The key is keeping an open mind to the possibilities and engaging with your design team and contractors early to create the best possible project.

“Most of our glulam structures incorporate steel fixings, connections, and complementary elements. Successful projects blend glulam, CLT, steel, and other materials where each makes sense. The key is keeping an open mind to the possibilities and engaging with your design team and contractors early to create the best possible project.”

There are also questions about the long-term supply chain. Some foresters are concerned that the emphasis on biodiversity may have swung too far, potentially undermining the future industry by not planting enough of the species we need for construction – i.e. spruce and Douglas fir. If we want to genuinely increase our use of homegrown timber, we need to ensure we're planting for that future now.

Making glulam work

Glulam isn't new – there was plenty used in the 1980s – but it's experiencing a resurgence alongside other engineered timbers. Increasingly, we’ve seen projects adopt a combination of several materials working together to achieve their goals – our role is to help them with our knowledge and expertise to turn that idea into a reality. That means providing clear, early-stage information on feasibility, cost, and performance. It means helping clients understand glulam isn't just for special-case projects but can be

The shift towards greater timber use is already underway. Yes, 2026 won't see a revolution, but we're excited to see real momentum building: more confident clients, increasingly competitive costs, maturing homegrown supply chains, and a growing body of successful projects proving what's possible. As the policy environment evolves to properly value low-carbon materials, glulam is moving from an alternative option to a genuine mainstream choice.

It still surprises me how often people don't realise glulam is a viable alternative to steel or know where to start with it. Of course, I am going to say this, but if you have any questions, we’re always happy to run through the feasibility and costings at the early stages before you commit to a full design. The more these conversations happen, the more options become available to everyone and that can only strengthen the whole industry. 

www.bucklandtimber.co.uk

CRAFTED OVER TIME

Where others may rush, we prefer to savour time, to refine, to hone, to perfect. When others standardise, we master individuality, providing a truly bespoke service. And where others may stand still, we innovate, invest, and modernise. Every George Barnsdale timber window and door is meticulously made only for you – and has been since 1884. George Barnsdale. Don’t compromise. Customise.

Individuality worth waiting for since 1884.

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