Project Idea for Grown in Britain and UK Construction

Transcription

1 Published on EIP-AGRI ( Creating a Local Timber Supply Chain and Processing Plant to make Timber-Based Materials & Components for Use in Economical and Potentially Self-Assembly Housing The proposed project is: Project Idea for Grown in Britain and UK Construction To make available to the commercial housebuilding market, Housing Associations/Registered Providers and community self build teams or individuals a model residential dwelling (or range of residential dwellings) that complies with all statutory requirements, but that is low cost, low carbon, easily and rapidly constructed (such as the Wikihouse, [1]) and which makes use of as many Grown in Britain timber components that can be sourced and processed locally (in Northamptonshire alone over 41,000 tonnes of timber would be available over a 5 year period by bringing in only 12% of the unmanaged woodland in the county). The project would also involve establishing a local processing/manufacturing plant or multiple plants for OSB and other timber components and a local timber supply chain to service the plant(s). The benefits that could be potentially realised by this project: Low cost mainly due to four factors: The cost of materials being considered (locally sourced timber, incorporating for example OSB). The processing and manufacture of the components (such as CNC cutting). The speed of erection on site basically from a kit (or possibly offsite for modules). The ease of construction making it capable for a lower skilled team to at least construct the frame. Improved viability of affordable housing. Affordability for first-time buyers.

2 Quicker delivery rate of housing and potentially greater numbers for the same amount of capital investment both for affordable housing and private housing. Regeneration of woodland management for use in building materials build on the market stimulated by biomass fuel. Support for rural enterprise and the rural economy. Improved biodiversity as a result of improved woodland management. Low carbon in terms of embedded carbon, relatively short transportation distances from source to processing to use on site, good thermal properties and reduced materials wastage on site. In particular OSB is more sustainable than plywood as it utilises forest thinningsand coppice materials as the raw material rather than larger diameter logs. Dwellings could also incorporate other low carbon materials and techniques such as hemp blocks, lime render etc if that is desired, but there would be an increase in cost. Relatively light weight so could possibly be used on poor ground conditions (including brownfield sites) or for extending upwards on existing single floor buildingswithout significant abnormal costs for foundations. Development and support of a range of skills including arboriculture, wood product manufacture and processing, construction, logistics. Improved social inclusion and values, particularly if community self-build is facilitated. Circular economy it will be possible to recycle and reuse a significant proportion of the components of the dwelling.

3 Title (in English): Creating a Local Timber Supply Chain and Processing Plant to make Timber-Based Materials & Components for Use in Economical and Potentially Self-Assembly Housing Description (in English): The proposed project is: Project Idea for Grown in Britain and UK Construction To make available to the commercial housebuilding market, Housing Associations/Registered Providers and community self build teams or individuals a model residential dwelling (or range of residential dwellings) that complies with all statutory requirements, but that is low cost, low carbon, easily and rapidly constructed (such as the Wikihouse, [1]) and which makes use of as many Grown in Britain timber components that can be sourced and processed locally (in Northamptonshire alone over 41,000 tonnes of timber would be available over a 5 year period by bringing in only 12% of the unmanaged woodland in the county). The project would also involve establishing a local processing/manufacturing plant or multiple plants for OSB and other timber components and a local timber supply chain to service the plant(s). The benefits that could be potentially realised by this project: Low cost mainly due to four factors: The cost of materials being considered (locally sourced timber, incorporating for example OSB). The processing and manufacture of the components (such as CNC cutting). The speed of erection on site basically from a kit (or possibly offsite for modules). The ease of construction making it capable for a lower skilled team to at least construct the frame. Improved viability of affordable housing. Affordability for first-time buyers. Quicker delivery rate of housing and potentially greater numbers for the same amount of capital

4 investment both for affordable housing and private housing. Regeneration of woodland management for use in building materials build on the market stimulated by biomass fuel. Support for rural enterprise and the rural economy. Improved biodiversity as a result of improved woodland management. Low carbon in terms of embedded carbon, relatively short transportation distances from source to processing to use on site, good thermal properties and reduced materials wastage on site. In particular OSB is more sustainable than plywood as it utilises forest thinningsand coppice materials as the raw material rather than larger diameter logs. Dwellings could also incorporate other low carbon materials and techniques such as hemp blocks, lime render etc if that is desired, but there would be an increase in cost. Relatively light weight so could possibly be used on poor ground conditions (including brownfield sites) or for extending upwards on existing single floor buildingswithout significant abnormal costs for foundations. Development and support of a range of skills including arboriculture, wood product manufacture and processing, construction, logistics. Improved social inclusion and values, particularly if community self-build is facilitated. Circular economy it will be possible to recycle and reuse a significant proportion of the components of the dwelling.

5 Proposing person or organization: Multiple users including Daventry District Council, South East Midlands Enterprise Partnership, Forestry Commission, Building Research Establishment, DEFRA Project coordinator is searching for : Foresters, woodland managers, timber processing companies, house builders, property developers that would be interested in collaborating to research if the project is a viable proposition Expected outcomes (original language): An Operational Group of collaborative partners. Detailed Business Plan. Finance to support project development. Expected outcomes (English): An Operational Group of collaborative partners. Detailed Business Plan. Finance to support project development. Expected starting date of the project: Monday, 15 June, 2015 Expected duration: June, 2015 Additional information: The Wikihouse Foundation are interested in developing the project. Contact gunderhill@daventrydc.gov.uk [2] Deadline for contact: Monday, 15 June, 2015 to Tuesday, 30 June, 2015 Source URL: Links [1] [2] mailto:gunderhill@daventrydc.gov.uk