Structural Timber Association (STA) and Timber Development UK (TDUK) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help grow and develop the timber construction market.

Under the terms of the agreement the two parties have agreed to form a partnership in order to collaborate on technical projects to further the development of timber design and construction as well as on policy related communication matters.

Both parties already produce technical and design guidance for architects, engineers and manufacturers. The collaboration will help ensure that both parties avoid duplication in their work and that the market is better served with agreed, authoritative sources of technical information.

It will also ensure that the downstream, manufacturing and design sectors of the timber supply chain are speaking with “one voice” to policy makers. This will be conducted according to a common advocacy plan under the umbrella of the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI).

Speaking at the signing of the MOU, David Hopkins, Chief Executive of TDUK said: “I’m delighted to sign this with the STA. In many ways it formalises what we have already been doing – working together to help grow the market – but gives a fresh impetus to us doing so. We formed TDUK last year to help bring different parts of the supply chain together. This MOU takes us one step closer to achieving that.”

Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the STA said: “I am well known for preaching the sermon of collaboration across construction, so am delighted to be signing this MOU to do just that within our own sector. If timber is going to take centre stage in the construction sector then we need to ensure that we work with all parts of the supply chain. This partnership will allow us to maximise the strengths of both organisations for the common good.”

STA and TDUK have been working together over the past 18 months, with Confor and others, to help inform the Government’s ‘Timber in Construction Roadmap’ – a policy initiative spanning several departments to help grow the market for timber construction. The roadmap is due to be published in November.

Both parties will also be working together to promote the use of timber as a housing construction solution during 2024.

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