RFS welcomes and supports Timber Construction Roadmap
The Timber in Construction Roadmap 2025 was launched on 27 February and describes how timber can help address pressing environmental and economic challenges.
The Timber in Construction Roadmap was released last week, outlining how the use of timber in construction will boost the domestic timber industry, economic growth, rural jobs and housebuilding targets. The plans were announced by Environment Minister Mary Creagh on Thursday 27 February at the Timber in Construction (TiC) Summit in London.
The Government says the ambitious plans will help solve the housing crisis and achieve 2050 net zero targets.
RFS Chief Executive Christopher Williams commented: “The Royal Forestry Society welcomes and supports the Timber in Construction Roadmap 2025 as a vital step towards a sustainable future. We hope it will unlock the potential of homegrown timber and encourage the management of resilient woodlands. This development should also help drive low-carbon innovation in the built environment and help to build a greener future for generations to come.”
Speaking at the TiC Summit, Minister Creagh confirmed the government will recommit to the Timber in Construction Roadmap, which outlines measures to increase the use of timber in the construction sector.
Using timber in construction is one of the best ways to reduce emissions from buildings. Around 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are from the built environment, and larger buildings can store up to 400% more carbon when built out of engineered timber products compared to when built with concrete.
The new Timber in Construction Roadmap outlines key actions including:
- Encouraging the use of sustainable, low carbon building materials and ensuring carbon emissions are considering during the design, construction and use of buildings.
- Fulfilling the Government’s commitment to delivering 1.5m homes this Parliament by using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), including the use of timber to boost productivity in housebuilding and deliver high quality, energy efficient new homes.
- Creating a circular economy by championing timber’s potential for a clean growth future – supporting the construction sector to use the most sustainable, low carbon materials and construction techniques.
- Accelerating economic growth by creating new and diverse green jobs in the productive forestry and timber sectors, as well as stimulating further investment into domestic timber and wood processing supply chains.
Environment Minister Mary Creagh said: “This Government is getting Britain building. Our Plan for Change will build 1.5 million homes this Parliament. Timber will play a vital role benefitting development and nature.”
Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford said: “To reach net zero, we must increase timber production from homegrown trees and use that timber in our buildings to sequester carbon. The Timber in Construction Roadmap will propel forestry production in England to ensure timber security, reduce our dependence on imports, and address the nature crisis by boosting biodiversity, improving water quality, and providing more green spaces for people.
“The Forestry Commission will continue to collaborate closely with partners from the timber, forestry, and construction sectors in this critical area of work for many years ahead”.
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