Andrew Orriss of the Structural Timber Association (STA) outlines how timber construction offers housebuilders a route to ‘carbon-conscious design’ allied to commercial efficiency in the sector.
As housebuilders and architects work toward delivering on the UK’s net zero commitments and the pressing demand for more homes, timber construction is stepping forward as a practical, sustainable, and commercially viable solution.
The UK Government’s renewed support of the Timber in Construction (TiC) Policy Roadmap adds fresh momentum to the shift towards more sustainable construction with structural timber, providing the housebuilding sector with a structured pathway for adoption. However, beyond policy direction and climate targets, the success of timber in the built environment hinges on early design decisions, collaborative planning, and a skilled workforce ready to adapt.
The case for timber as a low-carbon material is well established. Structural timber systems offer a significantly reduced embodied carbon footprint compared to conventional alternatives, making them a natural fit for environmentally responsible design. Yet, just as compelling are the commercial advantages timber provides to developers and contractors.
Timber-framed homes can be constructed in nearly half the time of traditional masonry builds, often within 15 weeks, which enables earlier site turnover, improved cash flow, and better risk management. Quicker weather-tightness, often achieved six to 10 weeks earlier than with brick and block, further accelerates internal work and handovers. With the pressures of meeting housing targets and controlling costs, these time savings are not just attractive, they are becoming essential.
For timber’s benefits to be fully realised, the design community must do more than simply swap one material for another. Timber demands a different design approach, one that embraces its properties and construction systems from the outset, and early collaboration is essential. Architects should engage with engineers, contractors, and clients at the concept stage to ensure design decisions support best practices in timber. Fire, durability, and acoustic performance requirements must be addressed through integrated planning rather than late-stage compliance checks. Similarly, by designing with offsite manufacture in mind, architects can influence not just sustainability outcomes but also commercial performance.
Despite growing demand, a major barrier to mainstreaming timber in construction remains the availability of skills. The TiC Roadmap strongly emphasises developing competency across the supply chain, identifying three key priorities: attracting new talent into timber-related careers, upskilling and reskilling existing professionals, and establishing industry-wide forums for knowledge exchange.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) must play a central role in closing the skills gap, particularly in timber engineering, fire safety design, and low-carbon performance, and industry bodies, such as the STA, are working to address this through technical guidance, training schemes, and accreditation programmes that reinforce competency across both design and construction stages.
Meanwhile, the STA Assure scheme offers a framework for quality and compliance in timber manufacture and installation, helping housebuilders mitigate risk while increasing confidence among insurers, lenders, and warranty providers. Ensuring consistent standards across the supply chain not only supports safe and compliant builds but also reinforces timber’s reputation as a credible, mainstream construction method.
The reaffirmation of the TiC Policy Roadmap in early 2025 by the Environment Minister, Mary Creagh, underscores timber’s central role in delivering the Government’s environmental and housing ambitions. From improving data on embodied carbon to boosting domestic timber supply and addressing fire safety concerns, the roadmap sets a wide-reaching agenda that brings together government and industry.
For architects, this evolving landscape presents both a challenge and an opportunity. A shift to timber demands new ways of thinking, designing, and collaborating, but it also unlocks pathways to low-carbon architecture that is efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with future regulatory expectations.
Recent guidance published by the STA, aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work, provides a guide for designing with structural timber. The guide supports design professionals with technical considerations around compliance, performance, and buildability, and when used in tandem with quality assurance schemes and early supply chain engagement, these resources help to build the confidence needed for wider adoption.
The case for timber is no longer confined to sustainability, it is also about viability, resilience, and readiness for the future. For architects at the forefront of the UK’s housebuilding efforts, embracing timber means contributing not just to greener homes, but to smarter, faster, and more commercially grounded construction. As the industry continues to respond to the challenges of climate change and housing demand, timber presents not just an option, but a clear direction of travel.
Andrew Orriss is CEO at the Structural Timber Association (STA)