<b></b><p></p><p><b><b>It was not too many years ago that timber frame housing in the UK was having a rather bumpy ride. Andrew Leech finds the wheel has now turned full circle and the technique is becoming ever more popular as a construction method for new homes</b></b><br><b>If a recent poll is to be believed, timber frame could be providing 60% of all housebuilding within a few years.</b><br>Egan&amp;’s encouragement for more widespread indulgence in factory made components plus the stringent revisions to Parts L &amp;&amp; E of the Building Regs, have all fuelled the renaissance. Plus the growing dearth of on site skills.</p><p><b><b>Merger boost</b></b><br>There has also been a major consolidation of interests such as the convergence of the Timber Frame Industry Association (TFIA) and the Timber &amp;&amp; Brick Consortium (T&amp;&amp;BC). Their respective chairmen Bob MacFarlane and George Thompson say, in a joint statement: &amp;“We are delighted to be able to announce this merger. Both organisations have worked hard to achieve this union and we are confident that our mutual strengths will prove a huge benefit to the timber frame industry in the UK.&amp;” </p><p>An announcement about the new organisation&amp;’s name and future strategy is imminent and a chief executive is soon to be …