Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 38
38
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 180
Support the sawmilling sector to produce more construction-grade and engineered UK timber products.
Conclusion
For UK-grown timber to be used in construction, the Government needs to support the sawmilling sector to transition UK production towards producing a higher percentage of construction grade timber products and engineered timber. Action to support this transition should be specifically set out in the Timber in Construction roadmap.
Government Response Summary
The government commits to addressing the need to support the sawmilling sector within the Timber in Construction Roadmap. The roadmap will explore barriers to using English wood and aim to set out how these can be addressed, including through greater guidance and improved understanding of domestic timber properties, to stimulate demand.
Paragraph Reference:
180
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
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 which is the strength grade most domestic softwoods are graded to. 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.