Government issues roadmap to boost use of timber in construction

The government has launched a new roadmap to increase the use of timber in the construction of homes and buildings in a move designed to reduce carbon emissions and move towards net zero.

The plan will see the planting of forests and aims to stimulate construction and boost the economy by cutting imports.

The Timber in Construction roadmap sets out a plan to increase the use of timber in construction, while presenting opportunities for economic growth, rural jobs and levelling up. Currently 80% of the timber the UK currently uses is imported. Increasing domestic capacity will create new green jobs in the forestry and wood processing sectors, which contribute more than £2 billion to the UK economy, Defra says.

Key actions set out in the plan include:

• Improving data on timber and whole life carbon
• Promoting timber as a construction material
• Boosting skills, capacity and competency across the supply chain
• Increasing the supply of sustainable timber products
• Addressing fire safety concerns to safely expand the use of engineered mass timber
• Building collaboration with insurers, lenders, and warranty providers
• Promoting innovation and high performing timber construction systems

Forestry minister Rebecca Pow said: “Investing in timber is investing …