Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 39
39
Accepted
Paragraph: 181
Incentivise changes allowing safe use of domestically grown timber in construction, including engineered products.
Conclusion
The Timber in Construction roadmap should consider how Government can incentivise changes in practice to allow the safe use of domestically grown timber in construction, including through the use of innovative engineered timber products.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that during the development of the Timber in Construction Roadmap, they have already explored options to incentivise low carbon construction, including the safe use of domestically grown timber and innovative engineered timber products. They also reference current projects and collaboration with DLUHC on safety.
Paragraph Reference:
181
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
During the development of the Timber in Construction Roadmap we have looked at options to incentivise low carbon construction, including the use of timber and English timber specifically. This has included working with industry and academia to understand barriers to its use, such as lack of market familiarity with British C16 timber and where it can be used in the built environment. 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.