At Derby College Ilkeston a more refined aesthetic was required by our client and treated boarding was specified to minimise the maintenance regime. Budget permitting the specification could have included Thermowood or Accoya modified timber to extend its longevity.

There’s no doubt about it as an industry our increased use of trees – dead or alive will be rewarded handsomely by minimising the growing impact of climate change as well as creating a better local environment to live and work in.

The projects above illustrate some of the obvious uses of timber within DLG construction projects. In the coming years we would be keen to expanded its use within our projects, perhaps utilizing it as primary material for structure and enclosure in the form of cross laminated timber (CLT)(1).Of course expanded use of timber as a resource would inevitably result in a requirement to replenish existing national stocks. Current figures show we are planting in excess of 13000 hectares a year in the UK and if we begin to use more in construction this figure will need to be increased substantially. What a better way than to start by planting trees on the upland areas feeding our river systems where they will delay the release of water and prevent severe floods similar to those seen in Carlisle recently. (2) Then we will be truly working within a “win win” closed loop circular economy in synch with the environmental systems that supports and protect us.