Kirkwood Timber Frame MD discusses the year ahead

Malcolm Thomson, Managing Director of Kirkwood Timber Frame, discusses the sector’s trials and tribulations in 2025, and how timber frame could be the answer to a successful 2026.

“2025 was a challenging year for the construction sector. As reported recently in the Telegraph, UK Housing saw its deepest downturn since the pandemic and longest contraction in almost 20 years.

“In September, cement sales – a key indicator of the industry’s output – fell to levels not seen since 1950. And while, as someone working in the timber frame sector, I recognise a move towards more Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) will of course reduce cement usage organically, this statistic was another that signalled the UK construction sector was in a slump.

‘Tempered optimism’

“Looking to 2026, there is some tempered optimism – especially around the Gelnigan data – which suggests modest output growth of 21% over the next two years.

“However, with a myriad of contributing factors – such as rising costs, uncertainties around government policy, labour shortages, insolvencies, global factors and supply chain pressures – uncertainty is a term that still looms large and any anticipated recovery is extremely fragile.

“I feel that the impetus sparked by The Government’s housing targets has perhaps waned and even though there has been a generational investment (of £39 billion) as part of The Social and Affordable Homes Programme, confidence will not be injected into the industry simply by targets and headline figures alone.

“There is a consensus that long-term pipeline visibility and stability are needed so businesses can invest in skills and capacity with confidence. Unlocking stalled sites and speeding up the planning process – and access to this vital funding – will also help increase the number of starts on site.

“For a while I have been hearing how idle time is one of the most costly and avoidable issues that developments face. Accurate and collaborative scheduling, that sequences trades earlier in the planning process, can ensure that teams are not working on top of each other or competing for limited site space or access.

Showcasing timber frame

“Timber Frame can help with this, offering more programme certainty, achieving weathertightness sooner and speeding up build times. In addition, pre-manufactured components can be delivered to suit a ‘Just in time’ delivery schedule, meaning less storing, crowding and moving of materials – as well as removing the associated insurance and safety implications of keeping large amounts of product on site. With margins squeezed elsewhere, devising and realising more rigorous build schedules is becoming ever more important.

“Lastly, it is becoming clear that a more joined up approach and partnership working between private developers, housing associations and local and central governments, will also help to increase sustainable new supply – and in our timber frame section of the industry, collaboration will continue to be key too.

“We have long described ourselves as ‘Your timber frame partner’ and alongside producing high quality, precision engineered products, have often acted as mentor to customers who have never built with timber frame before. Education around the benefits it can offer is key.

“We have adapted and evolved our products too. A £3million investment in our 53,000sq ft, state-of-the-art factory in Aberdeenshire has enabled us to develop new lines and bespoke solutions that help our customers save time, money and increase buildings’ Pre-Manufactured Values (PMV) and sustainability credentials.

‘Modernise or Die’

“I was Interested to hear what Cast Consultancy’s Mark Farmer – the proponent of ‘Modernise or Die’ – had to say recently, at The Future Homes Conference. When talking about the future of MMC he said: “Whilst we all talk about MMC unlocking premanufactured value, volumetric has been shown to be incompatible with the cyclical nature of the UK housebuilding sector. More mature thinking in these markets is now recognising that the future is panelisation, and specifically timber frame”.

“Timber Frame is an adaptable solution that enhances a building’s PMV (among many other benefits) but it doesn’t come with the upfront cost or mandated early sign off on specifications that modular (or volumetric) builds require.

“Neither does panelisation need to be basic. Timber frame suppliers shouldn’t just offer a one size fits all option. Collaborative working with customers during the planning process and partnerships with skilled manufacturers / suppliers, can deliver outcomes that enhance PMV, speed up delivery and reduce cost.

Bringing more to the table

“This has long been our ethos. Timber frame can bring so much more to the table. This is why – along with the previously mentioned investment in our factory – we were the first supplier to team up with Eurocell to incorporate its innovative InSite pre-fitted windows in our timber frame systems. This played a key role in the delivery of 87 new council properties in Aberdeen – which you can read about here.

“We are one of – if not the only – supplier in the UK that can produce 12-metre-long panels for large projects and have been partnering with Knauff Insulation, using its high-performance and fully recycled insulation in our products, helping to further reduce the carbon footprint of our customer’s builds.

“We will soon be announcing a new partnership with a well-known brick supplier, to offer a brick slip cladding option going forward.

“By being adaptable and offering our FastBuild systems with as many or as few add-ons as required by the customer – hybrid panelisation, so to speak – we hope to build on existing successful partnerships, while developing new relationships with developers looking to enhance their builds. We can help them to enjoy the many benefits that MMC can deliver.”

For more information about Kirkwood Timber Frame, visit: Timber Frame Kits – Kirkwood Timber Frame