At one point in time the UK was one of the leading innovators when it came to timber construction. However, the rest of the world is now leaving us behind. Many countries have already made changes to planning policies and building regulations to promote its use. At the same time, we are struggling to embrace adopting it in a major way. As one of the top architects in London, we want to take a closer look at why.

Grenfell

One of the biggest reasons for the reticence is concerns stemming from the Grenfell disaster. The inquiry into the fire is still ongoing and bringing big changes to fire safety laws. However, it is also holding people back from considering timber for high rise structures. That is a sad thing, particularly because the core of the building was concrete.

At the moment there are restrictions on the height of timber buildings in the UK. They can be up to 11 metres (or six storeys). This can extend to 18 metres if there is a suitable sprinkler system. The limits are far behind other countries. For example, skyscrapers over 80 metres tall have recently been built in the US and Norway.

Embracing timber

The UK definitely needs to do more to embrace timber, especially in pursuit of protecting the environment and boosting sustainability. A change to structural timber can lock far more carbon into buildings. It will remain stored as long as the wood does not rot or burn. This is far better than the huge amount of emissions that come with using things like concrete and steel.

Using timber is also much better in terms of sustainability. It is easier and less energy intensive to grow more trees. Ores for metal and materials like stone are finite and not sustainable.

There is another notable major advantage with timber buildings too; they are far more adaptable than other materials. The thing here is it’s easy to unbolt parts of the structure here to rearrange them. It is even possible to cut new openings. This adaptability can mean the buildings will have a much longer life cycle.

Hopefully the announcement of one of the biggest timber housing schemes in the UK shows attitudes are changing. The Phoenix project will be a £430m investment to create 700 sustainable homes in Lewes. It will be the biggest timber neighbourhood in the UK and have renewable energy at its core.

Want to explore the advantages of timber with the top architects in London?

Coffey Architects knows the value of using timber, especially as a construction and finishing material. The sustainability benefits are clear. It can also make buildings more comfortable for people. That is really important today, especially with such a big focus on wellbeing and mental health.

If you are thinking about a project, we would love to help. You can ask us for all kinds of advice, including structural and design recommendations. We can also help with planning and more. So, choose to work with some of the finest architects in London.