Hackney Council has reiterated that it is set to be the first local authority in England “to promote timber construction in its planning policy” – but has issued a statement making clear that it will not exclude alternative materials.
The clarification comes after lawyers told Building magazine that Hackney could be opening itself up to legal challenges from the brick, steel and concrete industries if it made planning decisions based on a pro-timber policy.
Hackney declared last week that it was considering a ‘wood first’ policy that would see a presumption in favour of using sustainable timber in all new build projects.
Similar policies are apparently in place in other European countries. The campaign organisation Wood for Good is calling for all local authorities to introduce a ‘wood first’ rule in local authority planning guidance as a step towards meeting national carbon reduction targets.
But in a statement released today, Hackney said: “Although the Council is keen to promote the benefits of building with wood, it is not considering a policy that would exclude locally sourced building materials or prevent the use of other sustainable building materials in future developments. However, it will take into account the carbon footprint of a new development to ensure it is in line with its sustainability policy and the use of structural timber would help to contribute to this.”
Councillor Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “Timber construction is changing the face of sustainable development, with the industry increasingly recognising the aesthetic and environmental benefits of using wood in new developments. We aren’t looking to adopt a rigid policy which disregards the use of other traditional building materials, rather we will be seeking to inform industry leaders of the benefits of building with wood and how it can complement the national sustainability agenda.”
The policy – and negative reaction to it – arose after Hackney hosted a Wood First conference for architects, developers and planning officials from other local authorities to encourage the consideration of timber as a first choice building material.
Hackney planners and representatives from the Wood for Good campaign spoke at the event, alongside architects including Waugh Thistleton. The firm designed Stadthaus, the tallest timber residential building in Europe, which is in Hackney (picture).
The council now wants to promote debate on the topic, and welcomes feedback on the ‘Wood First’ policy at [email protected]
