NEWS 5


(L-R): Alex de Rijke, dRMM architects; Jess Hrivnak, RIBA; Anthony Thistleton, Waugh Thistleton Architects; Chris Gaze, Structural Timber Association; Rory Bergin, HTA Design TIMBER SPECIFICATION


Architects ponder the roadmap to using more timber at RIBA


The Timber Roadmap, introduced by Defra in February 2024 to increase specifi cation and supply of timber in the UK construction sector, presents the “opportunity of a lifetime” to hit net zero in 2050 according to the Structural Timber Association (STA). That was the view of STA chief executive Andrew Carpenter at a recent event held at RIBA to explore how to grow the use of structural timber in architecture using this extensive document as a driver. The STA recently held a morning seminar titled ‘Navigating structural timber construction to address net zero’ to share views from some of the leading architectural practitioners in the UK working in timber. Carpenter admitted that the fate of the Timber Roadmap was “still on hold” post-General Election, and the MP who instigated it at Defra, Rebecca


ADF JULY/AUGUST 2024


Pow, lost her seat in Taunton to the Lib Dems in the Election, so whether or not the Roadmap will survive unchanged is unclear. It’s unlikely the Roadmap will be mothballed, as it is the result of substantial investment from the industry, including the multi-agency timber working group convened by Defra. Within that, each of the Roadmap’s seven Priority Themes (covering diverse areas from forestry to carbon data), have their own working group. The seven Priorities are: “improving data on timber and whole life carbon; promoting the ‘safe, sustainable’ use of timber; increasing skills, capacity and competency across the supply chain; increasing the sustainable supply of timber; addressing fi re safety and durability concerns in engineered mass timber; increasing collaboration with insurers, lenders and warranty providers, and fi nally,


promoting innovation and high performing timber construction systems.” Carpenter, who has personally taken a leading role in achieving the Roadmap’s adoption by Government, told the RIBA audience that in order for progress to be made on the Roadmap now, it “needs leadership, it starts with Government and goes right through the supply chain.” He added: “Designers have a huge impact, and they need to start thinking about whether timber can be their fi rst choice.” Carpenter also cited the Procurement Act, which comes into force in October 2024 and how it is “putting a lot more onus on using SMEs in the supply chain,” based on environmental issues, and this was a “good thing” as it could benefi t a wider range of timber suppliers.


Continued overleaf... WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK


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