The Structural Timber Association (STA) has called on the UK housebuilding industry to increase timber construction to 30% of all new homes.
The STA, a broadened version of the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA), launches with a call to its industry to change the face of construction forever.
With timber currently accounting for only 18% of new homes in England and Wales, the STA is recognising there is a need for the industry to embrace this energy efficient and naturally renewable form of house building. The organisation is already working on initiatives to ensure this increase happens and has estimated that over 43,200,000kg of CO2 emissions would be saved in just five years.
Speaking about the call, chairman of the STA, Lawrence Young comments: “In Scotland 72% of all new homes are built using timber and the country has already embraced it for the benefits it brings in terms of cost, environment and time saving. The newly emerged STA will lead the way in promoting the wider use of timber across the UK as a whole and believes the industry will support us in achieving a step-change for our sector.”
In recognition of its growing membership that encompasses producers, users and specifiers of the product, the remit of the new STA is now broader and represents not just timber frame, but all users of structural timber products, including CLT, SIPS and Glulam. Already seen as an influential part of the wider structural timber industry, major players from within structural timber have recently joined the association, including B & K Structures and KLH; with more new members in the pipeline. The STA has also welcomed managing director of B& K Structures, Nick Milestone to the STA Board, with a responsibility for Quality and Membership.
Speaking about joining the Association, Milestone says: “The STA will make a real difference to the timber construction industry and B & K Structures welcomes the broadening of its remit. My business has joined the new STA because we recognise opportunities which will both make a difference to our bottom line and to the industry as a whole.”
The overall purpose of the organisation will continue to be the promotion of structural timber products and systems within the UK construction industry – something the UKTFA has done for 11 years to good effect. With the growing understanding that timber construction is the way forward in terms of energy efficiency, time saving and flexibility, the new STA will reiterate these messages through its programme of seminars, factory tours and research.
Lawrence Young comments: “The timber construction industry is now driven by intelligent and integrated hybrid solutions and our association stands for much more than ‘timber frame’, which is why our rebrand is a strengthening of our brand.
“As the STA we will continue to lead the industry in terms of quality, health & safety, education, technical knowledge and customer service.”
The STA is open to: manufacturers of structural timber products & systems; supply chain members; erectors; and designers. Associate membership is also available to end user clients, specifiers including architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, contractors, house builders, developers, stakeholder groups and public sector bodies.
