As the UK construction sector strives to align with net-zero targets and rising housing demands, the STA’s interim CEO Andrew Orriss explains why structural timber is key to transforming the way we build.

While its sustainability credentials are well established, timber also brings impressive commercial benefits, bolstered by a growing library of technical guidance and tools. Timber frame construction significantly reduces build times compared to traditional masonry methods and homes can be completed in as little as 15 weeks – almost half the time of masonry alternatives. This expedited timeline leads to reduced on-site risks, fewer delays, and greater predictability, particularly beneficial in the context of largescale housing projects or sites where efficiency is paramount. Timber enables projects to become weathertight up to 10 weeks sooner, allowing interior works to progress well ahead of schedule. Combined with a just-in-time approach enabled by offsite manufacturing, this contributes to less waste, lower costs, and improved project management. With material waste minimised and fewer weather-related delays, timber stands as a robust commercial alternative, especially in affordable housing and high-volume developments.

New guide for design

Recognising the need to support best practice as timber use scales across the sector, the STA recently released its most comprehensive design tool to date, ‘Structural Timber: Design and Construction Guidance.’ Aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work, this guide empowers architects, engineers, developers, and insurers to make informed decisions at every project stage, from inception to long-term maintenance.

The guide addresses vital topics such as early-stage planning, procurement, fire safety, moisture management, and construction logistics. Crucially, it also demystifies timber construction methods, including open and closed panel timber frames, structural insulated panels (SIPs), cross laminated timber (CLT), and volumetric modular systems. By standardising the approach and highlighting the nuances of timber-specific design, the STA is helping designers incorporate timber confidently and compliantly.

With the UK’s commitment to reducing embodied carbon in construction, timber offers a sustainable, efficient, and high-performance alternative to traditional materials. This guidance not only supports best practice but also provides clarity for stakeholders across the supply chain, ensuring confidence in timber-built solutions.

Expanding the knowledge base

Despite timber’s potential, one of the most significant barriers to its widespread adoption remains knowledge. Too often, design teams approach timber as a one-for-one substitute for masonry or steel, rather than a system requiring its own design considerations and competencies. To overcome this, early collaboration between architects, engineers, contractors, and clients is critical.

Understanding the unique characteristics of timber frame systems, from load paths and fixings to moisture behaviour and acoustics, enables better design outcomes and compliance. Adhering to performance standards around fire safety and durability is also paramount. The UK Government’s Timber in Construction (TiC) Policy Roadmap echoes this sentiment, highlighting the need to increase skills, capacity and competency across the supply chain.

Architects and designers must not only embrace timber’s design potential but also champion integration with modern methods of construction (MMC), particularly offsite manufacturing. Here, design decisions can have cascading effects on cost, scheduling, and quality assurance, making early-stage planning even more crucial.

To further support designers and demonstrate compliance with regulatory standards, the STA has also updated its ‘Volume 1 Pattern Book: Structural Timber Buildings Fire Safety in Use.’ Peer-reviewed by BRE Global, this critical resource offers detailed performance data for commonly used wall and floor elements, along with new wall types and roof spandrel elements.

By simplifying the compliance process and clarifying permissible variations in construction details, the Pattern Book removes ambiguity and gives stakeholders, from Building Control Bodies to insurers, a reliable, evidence-based reference. The Pattern Book is one of the STA’s most important publications – recognised and accepted by Building Control Bodies as an authoritative source of information.

At the heart of the STA’s approach is a commitment to quality assurance. Initiatives such as the STA Assure scheme evaluate member organisations on competency and regulatory compliance, giving developers, insurers and specifiers confidence in the robustness of timber solutions. Meanwhile, the Installer Training Scheme (ITS) ensures that site teams have the skills required to maintain consistency and quality throughout the build process.

Millions of more homes

The STA’s broader mission supports the Government’s commitment to building 1.5 million homes over the next five years, an ambition that cannot be met without embracing modern, sustainable methods of construction. Over the past five years, 198,429 timber frame homes have already been delivered in the UK, a number the STA aims to grow significantly in line with housing targets.

To secure timber’s future in UK construction, the industry must invest in the people who will drive its uptake. That includes expanding formal education for architectural and engineering students, rolling out Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes focused on timber design and installation, and attracting skilled tradespeople to work with timber systems. At the same time, the industry must continue to innovate, leveraging digital design tools, integrated project delivery models, and more advanced prefabrication techniques. The STA plays a central role in championing these shifts, influencing legislation, shaping training pathways, and ensuring its members remain at the forefront of technical excellence.

Structural timber has a vital role to play in reshaping the future of construction in the UK. With benefits that extend far beyond sustainability, from speed and efficiency to compliance and cost-effectiveness, it presents a compelling case for widespread adoption. But to unlock its full potential, we must build an ecosystem of knowledge, skills and support. Through guidance documents like the Design and Construction Guide and the Pattern Book, as well as quality schemes and training initiatives, the STA is creating the foundation for long-term success. The future of timber construction is not just about materials, it’s about mindset, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence.

Read full article here.

---