New roadmap to get Britain building with the use of sustainable and low carbon building materials
On Thursday 27 February at the Timber in Construction (TiC) Summit in London, UK Environment Minister Mary Creagh unveiled the UK Government’s new initiative to increase domestic timber supply, strengthening the economy and supporting sustainable housebuilding. The plan aims to reduce reliance on imports by enhancing homegrown timber production, creating jobs, and driving innovation in the construction sector. Read the original press release published on the gov.uk website on 27 February.
“This Government is getting Britain building,” said UK Environment Minister Mary Creagh. “Our Plan for Change will build 1.5 million homes this [UK] Parliament. Timber will play a vital role benefitting development and nature.”
This initiative will help address supply chain challenges, increase resilience, and reduce carbon emissions associated with imported materials. By aligning with sustainable forestry management, the approach ensures that timber production contributes to climate goals while delivering high-quality housing solutions.
“A greater focus on homegrown timber aligns with Wales’ low-carbon ambitions and our commitment to sustainable, high-performance homes. By expanding our forestry and timber processing capabilities, we can build more energy-efficient homes while driving long-term environmental and economic benefits,” said Gary Newman, Woodknowledge Wales
New policy paper: Timber in Construction Roadmap 2025
The UK faces pressing challenges—climate change, a housing crisis, and the need for economic growth. Timber presents a key solution as a renewable, low-carbon resource that can help reduce emissions, create jobs, and support housebuilding.
The UK Government has set a statutory target to increase England’s tree canopy and woodland cover from 10% in 2024 to 16.5% by 2050, but planting more trees is just one part of the solution. Sustainable forest management and increased demand for homegrown timber will drive investment in domestic supply chains, supporting green jobs and innovation.
The roadmap highlights timber’s crucial role in delivering 1.5 million homes this UK Parliament, incorporating modern methods of construction to provide high-quality, affordable housing while reducing embodied carbon in the built environment. With buildings responsible for 25% of the UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, using more timber in construction will contribute significantly to net-zero goals.
The Roadmap primarily focuses on increasing tree canopy and woodland cover in England. While the roadmap emphasises sustainable, homegrown timber production, it does not specifically address Scottish or Welsh woodlands. However, the UK’s overarching goals for timber usage and afforestation may influence policies and practices in Wales and other devolved nations, potentially leading to increased collaboration and alignment in sustainable forestry initiatives across the UK.
To ensure sustainability and resilience, the roadmap addresses seven priority themes:
- Improving data on timber and whole-life carbon.
- Promoting safe, sustainable timber use in construction.
- Expanding skills, capacity, and competency across the supply chain.
- Increasing the sustainable supply of timber.
- Addressing fire safety and durability in engineered mass timber.
- Collaborating with insurers, lenders, and warranty providers to boost confidence in timber buildings.
- Encouraging innovation in high-performance timber construction systems.
Woodlands must also be resilient to climate change, pests, and severe weather while ensuring that increased timber use does not contribute to global deforestation or forest degradation.
This initiative aligns with wider efforts like the National Wood Strategy for England and the Timber Industrial Strategy for Wales (currently in consultation), supporting a circular economy and decarbonisation across the construction sector. A future built with timber will not only enhance sustainability but also strengthen the economy, transforming how we build homes and public buildings for generations to come.
