Timber frame only sector seeing growth in UK housing market

A report by the UK Timber Frame Association has found that timber frame housing achieved almost 20% market share of all new housing built last year, up from 17% from 2004. The report claims that the increase is the most significant jump it has witnessed so far.

UKTFA chief executive Bryan Woodley said: "2005 was the fourth consecutive year of growth in UK housebuilding, but overall growth was slim at less than 1% and that growth was entirely due to the health and development of the timber frame industry."

The association expects the total number of new home starts in 2006 to increase from the previous year and for timber frames to play a substantial part in this growth.

Woodley said: "I believe we will see a unit growth of about 15% next year."

Last week QS News reported on a potential dispute over alleged problems with timber frame homes in a flagship development, The Hamptons, Surrey, built by Berkley Homes and joint venture partner St James (see QS News 6 October 2006).