Timber frame is the most tried-and-tested method of construction known to man. Indeed, since Dr Benfield built one of the UK’s first timber frame developments back in the 1960’s, timber construction has increased year-on-year, and even more rapidly in the last decade. Now timber frame accounts for at least 15% of all new builds in the UK (source: UK Timber Frame Association).
Timber frame enjoys top-level central UK Government support and, together with its sustainability, environmental and professional credentials, Benfield ATT have been working hard to smooth the path to sustainable timber construction. “But� Dr Benfield argues “commitment from Welsh Government, and indeed Welsh Companies, still desperately needs translating into practice�.
No one pretends that timber component supply has ever been an easy part of the construction trade. “But the Welsh simply are not delivering�, Dr Benfield suggests. “Being a Welsh company, we truly want to deliver an all-welsh product. However, as hard as we have tried, we just cannot source quality materials, at good value to our customers.�
Dr Benfield’s company, Benfield ATT, are an innovative, quality-driven timber frame construction company based in Caldicot in South Wales. The Welsh construction industry is the smallest in the UK, with the value of new contracts in Wales being under 5% of the total UK industry turnover (source: Construction Market Intelligence, Department of Trade and Industry). “It’s hardly surprising…there’s a lack of quality certification about� suggests Dr Benfield at a meeting with Wales Trade International last week “very few companies have UKAS ISO 9001:2000, and FSC certification is almost non-existent. Prices are too high, deliveries are unreliable and quality joinery has a lead time of between 18 and 24 weeks�.
“We want, and need, stronger Wales-based suppliers who can deliver the absolute best to our customers�.
Benfield ATT’s Technical & Professional Services Manager, Phil Edmonds agrees with Dr Benfield’s conclusions that, although companies are becoming more flexible about the supplier of their timber frame buildings and components, it is difficult to find local companies who can meet the quality expectations of Benfield ATT’s customers.
Dr Benfield’s team also believe that a lack of knowledge and promotion of the issues around certification is a barrier to its development in Wales, citing contacts whose misconceptions about their unique FSC certification made them declare the project impossible, even before they had started. Happily they have since been proved wrong but Dr Benfield’s advice to others reflects this: “Make sure your clients fully understand the issues of keeping the project as local as possible to save on transport emissions and other important environmental issues. Brief them, and their teams, before they begin. Investing your time and knowledge before you start will avoid costly misunderstanding and delays later on�.
There are people to help. TRADA, the TRA and the UK Timber Frame Association, clients and suppliers are all helping Benfield ATT towards meeting its target of creating an all-Welsh, high quality, truly sustainable engineered timber frame product. And Dr Benfield’s support for Wales does not end here; indeed his political presence in the Welsh construction industry is felt through the Welsh divisions of the House Builder’s Federation and other prestigious bodies, of which Benfield ATT are members, showing a commitment to local sustainability that begins on their own doorstep.
