Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 178
Engineered solutions are essential for increasing structural use of domestically grown timber in construction.
Conclusion
It is important that domestically-grown timber resulting from the current drive to plant is available for use in construction as far as possible. While there is scope to use UK-grown timber for a wide variety of non-structural purposes, engineered solutions and potentially changes in construction practices are required to allow the use of domestically grown timber structurally. Engineered timber, for example cross-laminated timber, laminated veneer lumber and heat-treated timber, offer opportunities for domestically-grown timber to be used to create structural components and be utilised in construction. We welcome the Government’s support for the development of innovative timber products.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of domestically grown timber for construction and describes ongoing efforts through the Timber in Construction Roadmap to address barriers and increase demand for English wood. They highlight current projects and a knowledge library supporting innovative engineered timber products.
Paragraph Reference:
178
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We anticipate that increasing demand for domestic timber in construction will in turn stimulate the timber and wood processing sectors, including sawmills, to increase the production of timber and wood derived products for this market. As part of developing the Timber in Construction Roadmap we are looking at the barriers to the use of English wood in construction such as a lack of market demand for C16 timber. The roadmap aims to set out how these barriers can be addressed to increase demand for English wood. For example, through greater guidance on the use of homegrown wood-based construction products. Improved understanding of the properties and suitability of the existing domestic timber resource for construction could also help drive demand. We have also looked at the opportunities created by engineered mass timber products such as glulam and CLT, which are increasing in popularity and have the potential to enable the use of timber in a wider range of building typologies, such as mid-rise commercial buildings. This is in addition to increasing the use of timber framed systems in single family homes. The Defra/ Forestry Commission funded, “Building from England’s Woodlands” project is looking specifically at the potential for using English homegrown trees in these products and an Innovate UK Funded “Transforming Timber” knowledge library was also launched this July to promote best practice in this space. We recognise that it is of paramount importance that those building using engineered mass timber products from any origin are doing so safely and we are working with DLUHC officials to assess options to ensure this happens.