Against a backdrop of evolving regulatory standards and a construction skills crisis, the principal voice uniting the home building industry is the Home Builders Federation (HBF). To strengthen their commitment to housebuilders and developers at such a critical time, timber solutions provider STEICO has recently joined HBF as a member.

With a comprehensive product portfolio, spanning wood fibre insulation, I-joist systems and Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), joining the HBF was a logical step for STEICO. Pete Hollingworth, Managing Director of STEICO UK, explains:

“Housebuilders face an ever expanding checklist – reduce energy consumption, reduce waste, cut whole life carbon, improve occupant comfort, build at pace and promptly comply to meet changing regulatory requirements. Our wood fibre insulation and structural timber solutions are well positioned to help the industry with these demands. Delivering homes fit for the future requires a collaborative approach which the HBF champions, and we’re thrilled to be a part of this through our membership.”

Committed to providing timber solutions for a more sustainable built environment, STEICO is eager to collaborate with the wider HBF membership to support the delivery of homes that meet tomorrow’s standards. Recognising that delivering meaningful change in a time of regulatory reform is challenging, one of the key drivers for STEICO joining the HBF was the support the trade association provides to members navigating this change.

Through policy advocacy, skills training, technical guidance and the facilitation of working groups, HBF drives its members towards innovative solutions to deliver fit-for-future homes. This presents an exciting opportunity for STEICO. Providing wood fibre insulation and I-joist products suitable for floor, roof and wall construction, the business is keen to work with the HBF’s wide-ranging membership to simplify design, procurement and installation to help ease build bottle-necks, particularly those that happen on site and can cause costly delays.

At the heart of regulatory reform is maximising the performance of a building’s envelope while minimising environmental impact. Peter Holligworth elaborates:

“As the industry prepares for the Future Homes Standard, STEICO’s low-impact timber products provide solutions that support energy efficiency and whole-life carbon targets, while also optimising conditions for occupant comfort. Looking specifically at our range of wood fibre insulation, performance goes beyond thermal benefits – acoustics, durability and breathability are at the forefront of our product development, which helps to future-proof home building. We’re keen to share more on this with other HBF members.”

Through its membership of the HBF, STEICO aims to actively contribute to the technical dialogue shaping the future of UK housebuilding. By engaging with working groups and collaborating with developers, designers and manufacturers, STEICO will support the integration of fabric-first principles, low embodied carbon materials and streamlined build processes. The company looks forward to sharing its technical expertise to help deliver high-performance building envelopes that meet and exceed forthcoming regulatory standards.

To find out more STEICO’s timber product solutions for the homes of tomorrow, visit our website.

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The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has released a 10-point plan of “practical” solutions for government to remove barriers to building and kick start development.

Following its audit report, Housing Horizons, showing that England is the hardest place in the developed world to find a home, the industry body has produced a charter which sets out how to radically improve the supply of high-quality new homes.

The charter provides a blueprint to radically improve the supply of high-quality new homes, while also supporting SME home builders and securing the industry’s future workforce and its path to Net Zero.

The plan shows how properly resourcing local authority planning departments, revising the rules around nutrient neutrality, and abolishing stamp duty on more energy-efficient homes could unlock development.

It is also calling for measures which would tackle some of the long-term challenges facing the sector, including reforming post-16 skills education to better meet the needs of business, and making planning policy more favourable to small and medium size developers.

If implemented, the plan is claimed to make a decisive contribution to overcoming systemic issues facing the housing sector and give people all over the country a chance of finding quality and affordable homes.

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