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Written question asked by Catherine McKinnell (Labour) on Thursday, 19 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 March 2026 (named day). It was answered by Josh MacAlister (Labour) on Monday, 30 March 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Schools: Buildings

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of using timber materials in a) constructing and b) maintaining school buildings.

Answer

The government recognises that timber offers a solution as a renewable, low-carbon resource. It offers potential to reduce emissions and create jobs, as set out in the Timber in Construction Roadmap: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/timber-in-construction-roadmap-2025/timber-in-construction-roadmap-2025.

The department has piloted a number of projects which explore the use of timber in school construction, including three prototypes using UK timber.

Our construction specification requires that new buildings meet an embodied carbon requirement, and that designs use natural materials to create a healthy learning environment. These specifications encourage the use of timber and other natural materials to meet the needs of our low carbon future.

Timber is a commonly used material in maintaining school buildings. School responsible bodies must ensure that the correct materials are used for any works to maintain fire, safety and other critical requirements.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
122101
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Buildings Schools Timber
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk