Confor supports UK’s strengthened focus on timber in construction

 Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Confor has welcomed Environment Minister Mary Creagh’s renewed commitment to the Timber in Construction Roadmap, announced today at the Timber in Construction (TiC) Summit in London. This pledge aligns with the government’s ambitious plans to strengthen the domestic timber industry, drive economic growth, create rural jobs, and support housebuilding targets.

Confor was a partner in the creation of the Timber in Construction Roadmap, which outlines measures to increase the use of timber in the construction sector. The document was a key topic of discussion at Confor’s policy conference in December, where Ms Creagh described it as “useful and important”.

Following today’s endorsement, Confor Chief Executive Stuart Goodall said: “Confor welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to work with partners, including the timber industry, to deliver the important ambitions of the Timber in Construction Roadmap.”

“In light of domestic timber security, we particularly welcome the Roadmap’s focus on increasing productive forestry and on promoting the use of homegrown wood-based construction products. Both of these actions will make an important contribution to achieving the UK’s net zero targets and economic growth.” Goodall concluded.

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. Currently 80% of the timber the UK currently uses is imported.

The new Timber in Construction Roadmap outlines Government priorities and 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.
• These actions will go alongside recommitting to existing plans such as promoting timber as a construction material, boosting skills and capacity across the supply chain and increasing the supply of sustainable timber products.

Environment Minister Mary Creagh stated: “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.”

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