Product category:
Timber Buildings and Timber Products
News Release from: UK Timber Frame Association | Subject: 'modern method of construction'
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 July 2005
Timber frame is 'modern method of
construction'
Housing industry chiefs confirm that open panel timber frame meets their criteria for modern methods of construction (MMC).
In important statements that will give reassurance to many house builders and developers who have become confused over what constitutes MMC, the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships have confirmed that all forms of timber frame construction qualify as MMC, including 'traditional' open panel timber frame systems Speaking at the Offsite2005 conference, Clive Clowes of the Housing Corporation explained that its definition of MMC encompasses open and closed panel timber frame systems, as well as the newer advanced panel, volumetric, hybrid and SIP timber frame systems
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 29 Apr 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Timber frame construction now accounts for almost 17% of the new homes market, according to market statistics reported at the recent AGM for the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA).
He pointed delegates towards the 'Partnering Programme Approach' section of the Corporation's Capital Funding Guide 2005 which contains this definition.
Trevor Beattie, director of corporate strategy at English Partnerships (EP), confirmed that EP uses the Housing Corporation's definition of MMC because "it's completely right - there is no better description".
Timber frame construction also received approval from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
"From lenders' perspective, timber frame is a real success story in terms of MMC," said Andrew Heywood, CML's senior policy adviser.
Bryan Woodley, chief executive of the UK Timber Frame Association, says: "Timber frame is the original MMC.
It's as mainstream and low risk as you can get if you're a developer interested in embracing off-site construction, but it embodies all the benefits".
"Today's use of MMC is a million miles from previous experiments in prefabrication.
Successful use of off-site construction relies as much on the process and thinking that goes into housebuilding before manufacture as it does on the factory precision of the finished product.
It is about a more efficient form of business, which leads to a way of building homes that is quicker, safer, happens in more controlled conditions and gives consistently higher quality.
"Timber frame construction can draw on a long history and huge amounts of experience that prove the product's credentials and technical performance in the UK.
In addition, the UK timber frame industry is increasingly working with leading developers and designers to create an integrated package of innovations and new efficiencies - from pre-design, through off-site manufacturing and on-site erection - and we are creating better, higher quality homes where people want to live.".
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