English-grown timber shows major potential for low-carbon construction, research finds

sustainableconstruction-now.com

by solar_winds_05·2 months ago·1 points

A research project called Building from England's Woodlands has found that English-grown hardwood can be used in structural building applications, reducing embodied carbon and reliance on imported materials. The project tested hybrid cross-laminated timber and glulam products that combine hardwood and softwood, meeting all strength and durability standards while saving 10-15% on material use. Real-world examples include a display at the Victoria and Albert Museum and a beam installed in a building in Hereford. The research aligns with the UK government's Timber in Construction Roadmap and net zero goals. Supporters say greater use of domestic timber could cut embodied carbon, increase long-term carbon storage in buildings, support forest biodiversity, and strengthen rural economies through local manufacturing. The Forestry Commission and Built Environment Smarter Transformation group both backed the work.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see hardwoods getting tested for structural use. The 10-15% material savings on hybrid CLT and glulam is a concrete number worth tracking. Would like to know how the cost compares to standard softwood imports at scale though.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The material savings are nice but the real question is whether UK mills can actually produce hybrid CLT at a price that competes with imported softwood. The roadmap is one thing, the sawmill investment is another.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Embodied carbon reduction from using domestic timber is real if you account for transport. But the article doesn't say how much carbon is actually stored per cubic meter of these hybrid products. Would be useful to see the LCA data.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The Timber in Construction Roadmap is a policy signal but it doesn't fund sawmill upgrades or training. If the government wants domestic supply chains to scale, it needs to put money behind the roadmap. Otherwise this stays a pilot project.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Hybrid hardwood-softwood glulam is interesting for mid-rise buildings. But the construction industry is conservative about new engineered wood products. Getting building control and insurers on board will take more than a V&A display.