Prof Robert Hairstans

Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap Implementation Group
2024 - 2026

Recognition Type Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

Description The cross-sector Timber in Construction (TiC) Implementation Group will help implementation and progress delivery of the Timber in Construction Roadmap (TiCR), coordinating across industry, academia, and government to identify how we can best deliver on our commitments set out in the TiCR.

The TiCR was published on 11th December 2023 and sets out how government, construction, timber and other sectors, and academia can safely enable more use of timber in construction in line with Climate Change Committee recommendations and commitments set out in the England Trees Action Plan and Net Zero Strategy.

Increasing the use of timber in construction is an important measure to reach our tree planting ambitions, reducing our reliance on imported timber (around 80%) and will act as a stimulus to increase the demand for domestic planting stock in England. Timber in construction also supports wider government ambitions to reduce embodied carbon emissions in the built environment, helping us to reach net zero by 2050.

The cross-sector Timber in Construction Implementation Group will continue to work collaboratively, across government and across sectors, to deliver the actions within the roadmap.

Affiliated Organisations THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Research Areas Offsite construction and Innovative Structures

Research Themes Environment

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

Recognition Type	Advisory panels and expert committees or witness
Description	The cross-sector Timber in Construction (TiC) Implementation Group will help implementation and progress delivery of the Timber in Construction Roadmap (TiCR), coordinating across industry, academia, and government to identify how we can best deliver on our commitments set out in the TiCR. The TiCR was published on 11th December 2023 and sets out how government, construction, timber and other sectors, and academia can safely enable more use of timber in construction in line with Climate Change Committee recommendations and commitments set out in the England Trees Action Plan and Net Zero Strategy. Increasing the use of timber in construction is an important measure to reach our tree planting ambitions, reducing our reliance on imported timber (around 80%) and will act as a stimulus to increase the demand for domestic planting stock in England. Timber in construction also supports wider government ambitions to reduce embodied carbon emissions in the built environment, helping us to reach net zero by 2050. The cross-sector Timber in Construction Implementation Group will continue to work collaboratively, across government and across sectors, to deliver the actions within the roadmap.
Affiliated Organisations	THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Research Areas	Offsite construction and Innovative Structures
Research Themes	Environment
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

Structural Timber Pioneer of the Year Award
2024 - 2024

Recognition Type Fellowships and Awards

Description Award for leading pioneering research into industrialised timber and offsite construction solutions and developing multiple innovative products which have led to significant knowledge exchange with hundreds of industry and public sector stakeholders. Impact from the research has led to a number of award-winning projects.

Research Areas Timber engineering
Offsite construction and Innovative Structures

Research Themes Environment

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://www.radarbookingsystem.co.uk/structural-timber-awards/structural-timber-awards-finalists/

Recognition Type	Fellowships and Awards
Description	Award for leading pioneering research into industrialised timber and offsite construction solutions and developing multiple innovative products which have led to significant knowledge exchange with hundreds of industry and public sector stakeholders. Impact from the research has led to a number of award-winning projects.
Research Areas	Timber engineering Offsite construction and Innovative Structures
Research Themes	Environment
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://www.radarbookingsystem.co.uk/structural-timber-awards/structural-timber-awards-finalists/

Offsite Pioneer of the Year
2024 - 2024

Recognition Type Fellowships and Awards

Description Award for leading pioneering research into industrialised timber and offsite construction solutions and developing multiple innovative products which have led to significant knowledge exchange with hundreds of industry and public sector stakeholders. Impact from the research has led to a number of award-winning projects.

Research Areas Timber engineering
Offsite construction and Innovative Structures

Research Themes Environment

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Projects Homegrown Bio-Offsite Manufactured (Bio-OSM) Accelerator

URL https://innovationhub.napier.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/robert-hairstans-offsite-awards-pioneer-of-the-year

Recognition Type	Fellowships and Awards
Description	Award for leading pioneering research into industrialised timber and offsite construction solutions and developing multiple innovative products which have led to significant knowledge exchange with hundreds of industry and public sector stakeholders. Impact from the research has led to a number of award-winning projects.
Research Areas	Timber engineering Offsite construction and Innovative Structures
Research Themes	Environment
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Projects	Homegrown Bio-Offsite Manufactured (Bio-OSM) Accelerator
URL	https://innovationhub.napier.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/robert-hairstans-offsite-awards-pioneer-of-the-year

Harvard GDS Visiting Academic
2018 - 2019

Recognition Type Visiting Positions

Description Harvard University Graduate School of Design invited studio critique, Offsite Manufacture studio in practice with reciprocal Scottish learning weeks led by Associate Professor in Practice George Legendre during 2018 and 2019.

Research Areas Offsite construction and Innovative Structures
Timber engineering

Research Themes Environment

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Projects Wood Products Innovation Fund

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/project/model-as-building-building-as-model-ii/

Recognition Type	Visiting Positions
Description	Harvard University Graduate School of Design invited studio critique, Offsite Manufacture studio in practice with reciprocal Scottish learning weeks led by Associate Professor in Practice George Legendre during 2018 and 2019.
Research Areas	Offsite construction and Innovative Structures Timber engineering
Research Themes	Environment
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Projects	Wood Products Innovation Fund
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/project/model-as-building-building-as-model-ii/

CEED Best Practice Sharing Award
2022

Recognition Type Fellowships and Awards

Description Award to the Centre for Offsite Construction and Innovative Structures for its roles in advancing progress towards a Net Zero future for the Built Environment, demonstrating significant impact across skills, education, research, innovation, and commercial acceleration through collaborative working practices across stakeholders in the construction industry.

Research Areas Timber engineering
Offsite construction and Innovative Structures

Research Themes Environment

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://ceed-scotland.com/news/announcing-ceed-awards-winners

Recognition Type	Fellowships and Awards
Description	Award to the Centre for Offsite Construction and Innovative Structures for its roles in advancing progress towards a Net Zero future for the Built Environment, demonstrating significant impact across skills, education, research, innovation, and commercial acceleration through collaborative working practices across stakeholders in the construction industry.
Research Areas	Timber engineering Offsite construction and Innovative Structures
Research Themes	Environment
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://ceed-scotland.com/news/announcing-ceed-awards-winners

Built Environment Smarter Transformation - Green Skills Award
2023

Recognition Type Fellowships and Awards

Description BE-ST Accelerate to Zero Awards - Green Skills Award

Affiliated Organisations Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (formerly CSIC)

Research Areas Timber engineering

Research Themes Environment

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://be-stfest.org/accelerate-to-zero-awards

Recognition Type	Fellowships and Awards
Description	BE-ST Accelerate to Zero Awards - Green Skills Award
Affiliated Organisations	Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (formerly CSIC)
Research Areas	Timber engineering
Research Themes	Environment
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://be-stfest.org/accelerate-to-zero-awards

Built Environment - Smarter Transformation Beacon Award
2023

Recognition Type Fellowships and Awards

Description Accelerate to Zero BE-ST Beacon Award for outstanding academic achievement

Affiliated Organisations Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (formerly CSIC)

Research Areas Timber engineering

Research Themes Environment

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://be-stfest.org/accelerate-to-zero-awards

Recognition Type	Fellowships and Awards
Description	Accelerate to Zero BE-ST Beacon Award for outstanding academic achievement
Affiliated Organisations	Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (formerly CSIC)
Research Areas	Timber engineering
Research Themes	Environment
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://be-stfest.org/accelerate-to-zero-awards

Director of the Centre for Advanced Timber Technology
2021

Recognition Type Visiting Positions

Description The founding director of the Centre for Advanced Timber Technology at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE).

The mission of the CATT is to play pivotal role ensuring that the UK has the renewable natural resource, internationally recognised expertise, and technical capabilities necessary to be at the forefront of a new approach to delivering a sustainable and resilient built environment in response to the declared climate emergency, and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Industry Defined Mission Statement of CATT is to “stimulate collaboration across the industry both vertically (seed to end product) and horizontally (architecture, construction, digitalisation) as a common theme together with showing a wider audience how rewarding a career in timber can be.”

With construction being a major contributor to climate change and responsible for 40% of the country’s carbon emissions, the “Living Lab” Skylon campus which houses CATT is a showcase of the art of the possible. A Construction Excellence social impact award winning exemplar of timber modern methods of construction the building stores 330,000 kg of CO2e and is a beacon for sustainability in the region and beyond.

CATT was established in 2021 in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University who won a Queen Anniversary Prize in 2015 for its internationally acclaimed work in timber engineering, sustainable construction and wood science. This collaboration has connected local sustainable forestry management and construction practice ecosystems resulting in new research efforts to maximise the value of English woodland resource, create award winning training and educational programmes and stimulate local impact with national relevance as evidenced by the Department for Education GenZero ultra-low carbon building standard for schools, Timber Development UK Skills Action Plan and UK Government Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap.

Affiliated Organisations New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering

Research Areas Timber engineering
Offsite construction and Innovative Structures

Research Themes Environment

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://nmite.ac.uk/nmite-centre-advanced-timber-technology-catt

Recognition Type	Visiting Positions
Description	The founding director of the Centre for Advanced Timber Technology at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE). The mission of the CATT is to play pivotal role ensuring that the UK has the renewable natural resource, internationally recognised expertise, and technical capabilities necessary to be at the forefront of a new approach to delivering a sustainable and resilient built environment in response to the declared climate emergency, and UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Industry Defined Mission Statement of CATT is to “stimulate collaboration across the industry both vertically (seed to end product) and horizontally (architecture, construction, digitalisation) as a common theme together with showing a wider audience how rewarding a career in timber can be.” With construction being a major contributor to climate change and responsible for 40% of the country’s carbon emissions, the “Living Lab” Skylon campus which houses CATT is a showcase of the art of the possible. A Construction Excellence social impact award winning exemplar of timber modern methods of construction the building stores 330,000 kg of CO2e and is a beacon for sustainability in the region and beyond. CATT was established in 2021 in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University who won a Queen Anniversary Prize in 2015 for its internationally acclaimed work in timber engineering, sustainable construction and wood science. This collaboration has connected local sustainable forestry management and construction practice ecosystems resulting in new research efforts to maximise the value of English woodland resource, create award winning training and educational programmes and stimulate local impact with national relevance as evidenced by the Department for Education GenZero ultra-low carbon building standard for schools, Timber Development UK Skills Action Plan and UK Government Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap.
Affiliated Organisations	New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering
Research Areas	Timber engineering Offsite construction and Innovative Structures
Research Themes	Environment
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://nmite.ac.uk/nmite-centre-advanced-timber-technology-catt

Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap Working Group
2021 - 2024

Recognition Type Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

Description The cross-government and industry TiC working group will design a policy roadmap identifying key actions for government, the construction sector, timber sector, and academia to safely increase timber use in construction.

The group will develop and implement actions set out in the England Trees Action Plan and consider further actions, in both the public sector (e.g., procurement by Homes England, schools, NHS estate) and in the private sector (e.g., through planning and regulation), to enable more use of structural timber in line with Climate Change Commission recommendations. The policy roadmap will not be government policy but will be submitted to Ministers for approval. This roadmap will be recommended to Government for publication, subject to write-round clearances.

Research Areas Timber engineering

Research Themes Environment

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/timber-in-construction-roadmap/timber-in-construction-roadmap

Recognition Type	Advisory panels and expert committees or witness
Description	The cross-government and industry TiC working group will design a policy roadmap identifying key actions for government, the construction sector, timber sector, and academia to safely increase timber use in construction. The group will develop and implement actions set out in the England Trees Action Plan and consider further actions, in both the public sector (e.g., procurement by Homes England, schools, NHS estate) and in the private sector (e.g., through planning and regulation), to enable more use of structural timber in line with Climate Change Commission recommendations. The policy roadmap will not be government policy but will be submitted to Ministers for approval. This roadmap will be recommended to Government for publication, subject to write-round clearances.
Research Areas	Timber engineering
Research Themes	Environment
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/timber-in-construction-roadmap/timber-in-construction-roadmap

Timber Development UK Sustainability Committee
2021 - 2025

Recognition Type Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

Description The Sustainability Committee will identify key sustainability issues that affect the specification of timber in construction and take actions to overcome them, whether developing information and guidance to cover these issues, or commissioning research.

Key themes have been identified as requiring investigation, with sub-committees proposed to be formed under the direction of the main committee, including:

Embodied Carbon – Gaining a better understanding of how embodied carbon should be accounted for within lifecycle assessments (LCAs) and environmental product declarations (EPDs), and the background research and evidence to back-up the claims on timber.

Circular Economy – How do we promote the use of timber in the circular economy, focusing on substitution of high embodied carbon materials, sustainable packaging solutions, and the circular products and services the industry needs to develop.

Responsible Sourcing – Development of the Responsible Purchasing Policy to ensure all timber consumed in the UK is from verifiable legal and sustainable sources, to ensure we have a sustainable supply for the future.

Affiliated Organisations Timber Development UK Limited

Research Areas Timber engineering

Research Themes Environment

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://timberdevelopment.uk/raise-awareness-timber-sustainability-benefits/

Recognition Type	Advisory panels and expert committees or witness
Description	The Sustainability Committee will identify key sustainability issues that affect the specification of timber in construction and take actions to overcome them, whether developing information and guidance to cover these issues, or commissioning research. Key themes have been identified as requiring investigation, with sub-committees proposed to be formed under the direction of the main committee, including: Embodied Carbon – Gaining a better understanding of how embodied carbon should be accounted for within lifecycle assessments (LCAs) and environmental product declarations (EPDs), and the background research and evidence to back-up the claims on timber. Circular Economy – How do we promote the use of timber in the circular economy, focusing on substitution of high embodied carbon materials, sustainable packaging solutions, and the circular products and services the industry needs to develop. Responsible Sourcing – Development of the Responsible Purchasing Policy to ensure all timber consumed in the UK is from verifiable legal and sustainable sources, to ensure we have a sustainable supply for the future.
Affiliated Organisations	Timber Development UK Limited
Research Areas	Timber engineering
Research Themes	Environment
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://timberdevelopment.uk/raise-awareness-timber-sustainability-benefits/

England Forest and Wood-based Industry Leadership Group
2022 - 2025

Recognition Type Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

Description The remit of the England Forest and Wood-based Industry Leadership Group (EFWBILG) is:
• To be a forum to lead discussion on the current and future challenges and opportunities for the Forest and Wood-based industry in England, working with the Scottish Industry Leadership Group and Welsh equivalent when appropriate.
• To develop and articulate the English industry strategic priorities and views on these challenges and to communicate these to partners and stakeholders.
• To help shape, inform and deliver the UK governments ambitions of economic growth, environmental enhancement, and increased contribution to climate crisis mitigation and adaptation.

Research Areas Timber engineering
Offsite construction and Innovative Structures

Research Themes Culture and Communities

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://www.confor.org.uk/media/3424560/confor-england-wood-strategy.pdf

Recognition Type	Advisory panels and expert committees or witness
Description	The remit of the England Forest and Wood-based Industry Leadership Group (EFWBILG) is: • To be a forum to lead discussion on the current and future challenges and opportunities for the Forest and Wood-based industry in England, working with the Scottish Industry Leadership Group and Welsh equivalent when appropriate. • To develop and articulate the English industry strategic priorities and views on these challenges and to communicate these to partners and stakeholders. • To help shape, inform and deliver the UK governments ambitions of economic growth, environmental enhancement, and increased contribution to climate crisis mitigation and adaptation.
Research Areas	Timber engineering Offsite construction and Innovative Structures
Research Themes	Culture and Communities
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://www.confor.org.uk/media/3424560/confor-england-wood-strategy.pdf

BSI PAS 8700 Modern Methods of Construction Working Group
2023 - 2025

Recognition Type Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

Description This PAS specifies requirements for the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) in new build residential properties. It covers multiple build types (houses and apartments) and materials used by MMC categories 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.

Research Areas Timber engineering
Offsite construction and Innovative Structures

Research Themes Culture and Communities

Research Centres/Groups Institute for Sustainable Construction

Org Units School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment

URL https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/modern-methods-of-construction-working-group-developing-a-definition-framework

Recognition Type	Advisory panels and expert committees or witness
Description	This PAS specifies requirements for the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) in new build residential properties. It covers multiple build types (houses and apartments) and materials used by MMC categories 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.
Research Areas	Timber engineering Offsite construction and Innovative Structures
Research Themes	Culture and Communities
Research Centres/Groups	Institute for Sustainable Construction
Org Units	School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment
URL	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/modern-methods-of-construction-working-group-developing-a-definition-framework

Built Environment Exchange (beX) - Outstanding Employer Engagement in Universities

Department of Trade & Industry (now Business Innovation and Skills) UK National Award for Excellence in Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)

Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) Innovation Champion

Saltire Fellowship

Queens Anniversary Prize, Innovation in Timber Construction and Wood Science. COCIS was a major contributor to the award given work in timber offsite and MMC including CLT commercialisation work, timber engineering software development to European Codes o

Forest and Engineering Group

Scottish Government Research into Mainstreaming Offsite Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in House Building

Build Offsite academic member and representation for Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) Offsite HUB

Prof Robert Hairstans' Recognition (22)