Trees, timber & the transition to zero carbon construction
The Climate crisis is intensifying. Our natural and built environments need to adapt to change rapidly. More and more societies see forests and timber construction as a bigger part of the solution to decarbonising our built environment. At the same time forests are becoming more under pressure from global warming. What does this mean for future building projects? WoodBUILD offers an opportunity to meet with experts from across the forest industries and timber construction sectors to learn, collaborate and be inspired.
Since the first WoodBUILD event in 2016, this conference and expo has become the premium timber industry and low carbon housing event in Wales. We are pleased to announce that WoodBUILD is finally back in-person, bigger and better than ever. For 2023 we organised two-days packed with enticing speakers, exhibitors and a series of presentations, panel discussions, interactive plenary sessions, hands-on workshops and demonstrations. More than 170 industry experts joined us on 12 & 13 July in Lampeter.
Find all presentations in the programme section.
DAY 1: Trees, timber and the transition to zero carbon construction – getting hands-on
Designed to be very practical and hands on, delegates were given the opportunity to exchange knowledge and collaborate across sector boundaries. As well as a timber industry exhibition there were workshops, demonstrations, and curated forest walks to help delegates better understand the current and future role of the Welsh forest. Workshop sessions were be hosted by industry experts and practitioners including Katherine Adams and Simon Corbey (Alliance of Sustainable Building Products), Tabitha Binding (NMITE/TDUK), Andrew Carpenter (Structural Timber Association), Julie Godefroy (Julie Godefroy Sustainability), Elfed Roberts (Pobl Group) and Steve Cranston (Welsh Government).
DAY 2: Trees, timber and the transition to zero carbon construction – policy aspirations & implementation
Focusing on policy and current implementation programmes, this day was looking at the bigger picture. Julie James, MS, Minister for Climate Change spoke on Welsh Government’s aspirations for Welsh forests and decarbonising our built environment in Wales. Presentations and panels discussions on policy aspirations in the context of societal objectives and global-local challenges were alternating with interactive sessions on programmes, such as the Welsh Zero Carbon Hub, Home-Grown Homes Project, Delivering Net Zero Project, and the first Welsh Timber Industrial Strategy making best use of the collective intelligence in the room to develop our thinking on these topics further.
The aim of WoodBUILD is to inspire, create new business opportunities, offer a collaborative platform for all participants and to share information on current and future Welsh Government policies.
Conference Programme & Presentations
DAY 1: Trees, timber and the transition to zero carbon construction – getting hands-on
8.00 Pre-conference workshop on regenerative construction
Hosted by the Supply Chain Sustainability School in partnership with Morgan Sindall, this interactive breakfast workshop is open to construction supply chain professionals who are interested in exploring sustainability challenges and regenerative solutions.
Presentations
- Chris Williams-Lilley, Supply Chain Sustainability School (Facilitation)
- Steve Cranston, Welsh Government
- David Humphrey, Morgan Sindall
09.00 Registration opens
09.00 Exhibition and networking – refreshments
10.00 Accelerating change – the role of industry
10.00 Conference welcome – Woodknowledge Wales and UWTSD
10.10 Accelerating change. The role of industry collaboration and knowledge exchange – Gary Newman, Woodknowledge Wales
10.30 Elevator pitches – exhibitors
Presentations: all presentations
11.00 Exhibition and networking – refreshments
11.30 Getting hands-on: choice of workshops
Wood and the circular economy
Gain insight on recent research on how circular wood use can accelerate global decarbonisaton as well as practical experience of end-of life and circular options for wood products, such as recycling and upcycling options for MDF.
Presentations
- An introduction to the circular economy. Katherine Adams, Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (chair)
- Circular wood use can accelerate decarbonisation. Eilidh Forster, Bangor University
- A circular economy for MDF waste. Craig Bartlett, MDF Recovery
- wra – serving the wood waste sector. Richard Coulson, Wood Recycling Association
Overcoming the fire performance challenges of building with timber
In the post Grenfell environment, the UK construction risk industry has turned against the use of combustible materials such as timber. To decarbonise the built environment this problem needs a solution. What is that solution and what is the role for industry and policy makers?
Presentations
- Introduction to the ASBP’s activities. Simon Corbey, Alliance of Sustainable Building Products (chair)
- Overcoming the fire performance challenges… Jim Glockling, Glockling Consulting
- Demonstrating fire resistance. Seb Laan Lomas, Architype
Retrofitting for performance
A hands-on workshop, where you will be taken through a real retrofit inspection scenario at Lampeter Campus. If you’re interested in better understanding key things to do and to look for when considering and assessing a property in need of retrofit, then this session is for you. With presentations from Julie Godefroy and Nick Heath and live input from Alun Watkins (Kalm) and Adam Low (BTS).
Presentations
- Retrofitting for performance. Julie Godefroy, Julie Godefroy Sustainability / Diana Waldron, Woodknowledge Wales (chair)
- Nick Heath (STBA / NDM Heath Ltd)
Understanding the properties of fast grown plantation timber
A hands-on showcase of timber samples to demonstrate and discuss silviculture and wood properties as well as the challenges and opportunities of using home grown timber.
Presentations
- James Moxey, Woodknowledge Wales (chair)
- Dainis Dauksta, Woodknowledge Wales
- Morwenna Spear, Bangor University
13.00 Networking lunch in the exhibition
14.00 Getting hands-on: choice of workshops
Adaptive management for more resilient woodlands
A guided forest walk with NRW Forestry technical advisory group (TAG) experts. This outdoor workshop will focus on outcomes from the TAG and how these translate into woodland management practice. Particular attention will be paid to questions around resilience, biodiversity and climate change mitigation.
Presentations
- Christiane Lellig, Woodknowledge Wales (chair)
- Chris Jones, WKW / NRW Forestry Technical Advisory Group
- Dainis Dauksta, WKW / NRW Forestry Technical Advisory Group
- Morwenna Spear, Bangor University / NRW Forestry Technical Advisory Group
Creating a manufacturing culture in housebuilding
As the balance shifts toward more off-site and less on-site construction, how far will this revolution take us beyond the familiar timber frame manufacturing process and how do we overcome the barriers to progress? Will we see volumetric construction at any scale, will we be able to grow the skills to manufacturing more, can we get close to eliminating defects and will consumers warm to what we’ll produce ‘in the factory’?
Presentations:
- How MMC might change and evolve. Andrew Carpenter, Structural Timber Association (chair)
- Innovative housing using timber systems. Darren Jarman, Lowfield Timber Frame
- Stop building, start manufacturing. Charlotte Hale and Richard Hawkins, SO Modular
- Low Carbon Housing. Maurice Garnett, Ainsley Gommon Architects
- The client perspective. Steve Tucker, Tai Tarian
Timber construction for public buildings: Velindre Hospital
How to meet client ambitions for an all-timber public building within given technical, legal and budget constraints. Anna Lisa McSweeney, White Arkitekter, in conversation with Jim Glockling, Glockling Consulting, and Seb Laan Lomas, Architype.
Presentations
- Tabitha Binding, TDUK (chair)
- Velindre Cancer Centre. Anna Lisa McSweeney, White Arkitekter
New build – The EPC A Challenge: How to deliver more, for less
What are challenges and potential solutions to achieving better efficiency for less? Find out more and discuss a range of subjects related to EPC A and other sustainability & performance measurements and targets in this interactive session.
Presentations
- Diana Waldron, Woodknowledge Wales (chair)
- The EPC A challenge. Alun Watkins, Kalm Consultancy and Jaime Moya, Spring Design
15.30 Exhibition and networking – refreshments
16.00 New spaces for innovation and learning
An interactive session, which aims to inform University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s proposal for the development of a Welsh Centre to support timber innovation, skills, and knowledge exchange.
Presentations
- The New Lampeter Timber Development Centre. A collaborative space for innovation and experimentation – Gareth Evans, CWIC/UWTSD
- Example of design development – Elfed Roberts, Pobl Group (chair)
- Five inputs from the audience, how the TDC can support them
16.55 Closing remarks Day 1
17.00 Forestry Walks – sign-up on arrival
Longwood forest – 15 places
19.30 Conference barbecue in the courtyard
DAY 2: Trees, timber and the transition to zero carbon construction – policy aspirations & implementation
08.00 Forestry Walk – sign-up on arrival
Longwood forest – 15 places
09. 00 Registration opens
09.00 Exhibition and networking – refreshments
10.00 Welsh policy aspirations in the context of global-local challenges
10.00 Welcome to Day 2 and recap Day 1 – Gary Newman, Woodknowledge Wales
10.10 Welsh policy aspirations in the context of global-local challenges
Video presentations
10.30 Future forests and building design at a crossroads: How will design and construction practice and forest management need to adapt to meet society’s aspirations in terms of biodiversity, climate change mitigation and social justice?
A panel discussion illuminating the complexity of choices we need to face in the coming years and what is required of policy, industry and society going forward.
- Christiane Lellig, Woodknowledge Wales (chair)
- Prof. John Healey, Bangor University,
- Prof. em. Colin Haslam, Foundational Economy Alliance,
- Prof. Marc Metzger, University of Edinburgh,
- Gavin Traylor, RSAW/UWTSD
11.00 Exhibition and networking – refreshments
11.30 Turning political ambition into action
Learn about the objectives and approaches of four exemplar Welsh Government funded projects and contribute your own insight and open questions in this World Café style workshop.
Presentations
- Christiane Lellig, Woodknowledge Wales (chair)
- The Delivering Net Zero Project – Steve Cranston, Welsh Government
- The new Welsh Zero Carbon Hub – Ross Holleron, Sero Life
- The Home-Grown Homes Project phase 2 – David Hedges, Woodknowledge Wales
- Wales’ first Timber Industrial Strategy – Ann Burgoyne, Welsh Government
12.30 Conference conclusions
Where do we go from here – Gary Newman, Woodknowledge Wales
12.45 Networking lunch
14.00 Conference close
14.00 Post-conference deep dive sessions
An opportunity to dive deeper into ongoing programmes during an additional 60 minutes and further develop our thinking how to turn political ambition into action.
14.00 The Delivering Net Zero Project – Steve Cranston & Catrin Sneade, Welsh Government
14.00 The new Welsh Zero Carbon Hub – Ross Holleron, Sero Life
14.00 The Home-Grown Homes Project – David Hedges, Woodknowledge Wales
Sponsors
Tickets
| Full price | Early Bird* | |
| Standard ticket | £200 | £100 |
| WKW members | £100 | £70 |
| Students** | £50 | n/a |
| Conference barbecue 12 July | £30 | n/a |
*Early bird ticket offer ended 31 May 2023.
** Limited availability. Please note: For student tickets only bookings made from an academic email address are accepted.
All tickets give access to both conference & expo days. There are no single-day tickets available.
How to get there
Planning to arrive via public transport or car? Find out how to get there here.
Since March 2023 a new all-electric buse service connects Lampeter with Carmarthen and Aberystwyth train stations. Please note: if you’re travelling by train, select Lampeter as your final destination. Your train ticket will include the bus connection from Carmarthen or Aberystwyth station.
University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter Campus, Wales (SA48 7ED)
Accommodation options
| Black Lion Hotel | https://www.blacklionlampeter.com/accommodations/ |
| Evangelisa B&B | https://www.evangelisawales.com/ |
| Denmark Farm Conservation Centre | https://www.denmarkfarm.org.uk/eco-lodge/ |
| Falcondale Hotel | https://thefalcondale.co.uk/ |
| Winllan Farm Holidays(Cottage/Glamping Pods & Static Caravan Hire) | https://www.winllanfarm.co.uk/ |
| The Royal Oak Hotel | https://www.facebook.com/RoyalOakLampeter/?locale=en_GB |
