A shortage of supply to meet increased demand for housing has meant that the average UK home is now eight times higher than the average salary. Combatting the rising problem, and to meet Government-mandated targets to provide high quality homes at speed and pace, solutions such as offsite timber frame construction are increasingly being adopted by housebuilders.
The award winning company Stewart Milne Timber Systems is continuing to share specialist knowledge and industry expertise through a strategic and collaborative partnership with five star housebuilder, Barratt Developments, the country’s biggest housebuilder. The two companies have partnered to help address the UK housing crisis by adopting offsite manufacturing (OSM) methods to build a sustainable marketplace.
With Barratt partnering with Stewart Milne Timber Systems for its timber frames, both are committed to developing offsite construction projects as part of their housing portfolio. Steered by a goal to achieve 20% of their total build per annum as offsite construction by 2020, Barratt has built nearly 3,000 timber frame homes over the last two years.
As industry leaders in their respective sectors, both Barratt and Stewart Milne Timber Systems understand the importance and huge benefits that can be brought about by collaboration. Oliver Novakovic, Technical and Innovation Director at Barratt Developments, said: “We recognise that the supply chain holds an immense amount of knowledge about their processes, materials and technologies and the key for us is to tap into that knowledge. We know housebuilding and understand the demands of our customer base and what they like. We also intimately understand the performance specifications that are required from new technologies.”
He continued: “Stewart Milne Timber Systems has been a key partner of Barratt Developments over the last four years. This partnership has facilitated a significant increase in the group’s output of timber frame construction and engagement at all levels, from group directors to site teams, which has helped improve our understanding of timber frames.”
John Smith added “With heightened interest in offsite technology across the UK and beyond, this is a hugely exciting time for the housing industry. We are proud of every single project that we deliver alongside Barratt, producing exceptional results, using timber frames.”
Stewart Milne Timber Systems and Barratt were recently recognised at the Structural Timber Awards, picking up the award for ‘Best use of Timber Frame’, ‘Best Site Manager and ‘Best Private Housing Development’ for its collaborative work with Barratt Homes’ Yorkshire East Division, the exemplar housing project at St Wilfrid’s Walk Development in Brayton, North Yorkshire.
John Smith commented: “Having established a collaborative and open relationship with Barratt, both adding a great deal of expertise and knowledge, this prestigious award cements the fantastic work we are collectively delivering as part of our shared framework.”
