Understanding why new homes often underperform in use and how a Quality Assurance pathway could help close the performance gap and deliver better homes in Wales. Summary New homes in Wales frequently use more energy than predicted, leading to higher bills, discomfort, condensation and mould. This “performance gap” is preventable through better design, construction and […]
Projects & Ventures
Understanding the Performance of Home-Grown Timber for Timber Frame Manufacture
Why is home-grown structural timber often seen as inferior for timber frame manufacturing in Wales and are there practical ways to improve its stability, strength and suitability for timber frame construction? Summary Wales needs 14,000 new low-carbon homes per year, yet home-grown structural timber currently makes up only a tiny fraction of material used in […]
Social Housing as a UK Carbon Removal Strategy
How timber-based social housing can deliver scalable carbon removal, align with UK net zero targets, and unlock economic, social, and policy opportunities. Summary This report demonstrates how social housing can act as a large-scale carbon removal strategy through the use of timber and other biogenic materials. Wood in construction is a market-ready, scalable solution that […]
Early Stage Embodied Carbon Tool (ESECT): Progress, Engagement and Early Impact
Understanding Woodknowledge Wales’ work to support the housing sector in reducing embodied carbon through the development and rollout of the Early Stage Embodied Carbon Tool (ESECT). Summary This report outlines Woodknowledge Wales’ development, engagement, and rollout of the Early Stage Embodied Carbon Tool (ESECT) to support the housing sector in reducing embodied carbon. The tool […]
Farm Woodlands: Insights from Early-Adopter Farmers in Mid-Wales
This study explores the experiences of upland farmers in mid-Wales who have established woodland on their farms, alongside insights from forestry advisers working with farming businesses across Wales. It examines the motivations, challenges and opportunities associated with integrating trees into farm businesses. Summary This report brings together perspectives from farmers who have already established woodland […]
Timber in Retrofit, Repairs, Maintenance and Improvement
An exploration of opportunities for using home-grown and reclaimed timber products – including joinery, insulation and sawn wood – in the retrofit, repairs, maintenance and improvement (RRMI) of social housing in Wales. Summary Retrofit, repairs, maintenance and improvement (RRMI) represent a massive and growing market, with significant investment planned in Wales to upgrade the ageing […]
Future-proofing Timber in Construction: Resilience and Prosperity through Circular Wood Use
The findings from a series of webinars and a roundtable which explored how reclaimed and cascaded wood can strengthen the UK timber sector, reduce carbon emissions and support the Welsh Timber Industrial Strategy. Summary This report captures the outcomes of a 2025–2026 event series organised by Woodknowledge Wales in partnership with ASBP and Built by […]
Insights from Woodknowledge Wales Small Sawmill Survey – October 2025
This report provides a concise, updated quantitative snapshot of Wales’ small sawmilling sector in 2025. Wales is at a turning point for its timber industry, yet the picture we have of our sawmilling sector is incomplete. National figures show broad trends, but they are not broken down for Wales which has a small number of […]
Estimating timber value and carbon in complex woodlands using laser scanning
Research shows terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) can accurately estimate timber value and carbon content in woodlands enabling smarter woodland management and improved carbon accounting
Astudiaeth Achos: Tai
Gwynfaen, Penyrheol Mae prosiect tai Gwynfaen yn cynnwys dull ‘pren yn gyntaf’, gan ddefnyddio pren a chynhyrchion pren cartref sy’n cael eu gweithgynhyrchu oddi ar y safle, ac mae’n enghraifft o adeiladu cartrefi carbon isel yng Nghymru Cyflwyniad Mae prosiect tai Gwynfaen yn cael ei adeiladu gan gymdeithas dai yn ne Cymru, Pobl, ar safle […]
