The initial public hearing in a London Assembly investigation into building fire safety took a “positive” stance on the use of timber frame in the capital, according to housing and planning chair Jenny Jones.

Two leading timber construction contractors – Finnforest and KLH UK – are to show architects why wood is the material of choice to fulfill the government’s Building Schools for the Future brief.

Insurance giants Axa and Aviva have denied that they are threatening to withdraw cover on timber frame buildings, following a story in Building magazine alleging that the insurace industry saw timber frame as too high a fire risk.

The Norwich Open Academy takes building in cross-laminated timber panels to new heights and in new directions. Mike Jeffree reports

Sweden’s first timber multi-storey car park has rewritten the design possibilities for urban buildings traditionally the domain of concrete. Stephen Powney reports

Kingspan Group’s engineered timber systems business experienced a 72% reduction in sales during 2009.

Stewart Milne Timber Systems, one of the UK’s largest timber frame manufacturers, has appointed Ron Easton as its new managing director.