January 2024
This update has been prepared by David Hedges, our Head of Housing and the Home-Grown Homes project manager.
The second phase of the two-year project has reached its nine-month point. Read previous Project Updates:
Seed to Structure case studies
As part of our support for Welsh Government’s proposed Timber Industrial Strategy we’ve been completing a series of case studies for inclusion in the Strategy consultation. These case studies will include forest initiatives, tree planting on farms, investment in processing and manufacturing, use of timber on projects, joinery, wood culture and more. The consultation is now likely to begin in May with a potential launch of the Strategy at the end of the calendar year. Copies of the case studies will be posted on our website.
Skills sickness – diagnosis, prognosis and treatment
The final report of our research into skills, education and training is nearly complete. It incorporates content on the advanced timber manufacturing sector which has been added to the forestry content of the interim report produced in December. The report makes a series of recommendations for action in collaboration with a host of organisations which will be considered in the coming months.
Honing our timber
The first draft of a report on understanding the performance of home-grown timber for advanced timber manufacturing. It considers the challenges and opportunities of its use and considers the relationship between forest management, timber processing, and the provision of stable structural timber. It recommends two pilot initiatives to target areas of growing trees believed to be the most suitable for construction and to explore new approaches to processing.
Early Stage Embodied Carbon Reduction
We’re working with the Good Homes Alliance (GHA) on a tool to help development staff in housing associations and local authorities reduce the embodied carbon of their projects. GHA is building on the comprehensive feedback from its steering group and is in the process of producing a beta version of the tool which it’s hoped will be ready by the end of January. It’s also identifying robust and reliable data sources to support the scoring rationale which will be referenced in the tool’s accompanying guidance.
Stakeholder sensitivity
Over the next few months we’re analysing all of the Home-Grown Project stakeholders to understand their influence, needs, intentions and interactions so we can work out how best to engage and communicate with them.
Making Wood Work For Wales
Gary Newman our CEO took part in Making Wood Work For Wales, one of the Wales’ Climate Week virtual conferences along with Confor (Confederation of Forest Industries), NRW (Natural Resources Wales) and Steve Cranston (Welsh Government). The session looked at the actions needed to promote a healthy, growing timber industry in Wales and the economic, environmental and social benefits which will accrue as a result.
Co-collaboration at WoodBUILD 2024
Wales’ premium timber industry and low carbon housing event returns to Lampeter on 2-3 July and details of the full two-day proposed WoodBUILD 2024 programme and sponsorship pack are now available. Day 1 is designed to bring together stakeholders across the timber value chain, provide a safe space to air perspectives, share knowledge, get hands on with new industry tools and deliver Project updates. Day 2 will focus on bringing communities together and developing collaboration for action – working across the traditional sector boundaries. The early bird ticket offer ends on 30 April.
