NEWS
LATEST UPDATE FROM THE GLOBAL FORESTRY INDUSTRY
CONSTRUCTION Scotland Innovation
Centre (CSIC) and FC Scotland (FCS)
have awarded £100,000 of support
to seven companies who want to
design and develop innovative wood-
based products and systems for the
construction sector.
The successful companies in the
Advanced Timber Products Innovation
Challenge were: Robertson Timber
Engineering, Stewart Milne Timber
Systems, Sylvan Stuart Ltd, MAKAR
Ltd, JML Contracts, Dualchas
Architects and Neat Living. These
companies will share 120 days of free
access to the CSIC’s £3m state-of-
the-art Innovation Factory facility at
Hamilton International Technology Park.
Each will also receive membership to
the Innovation Factory, allowing them
future access at a preferential rate.
Lucy Black, head of business
relationships at the CSIC, said:
“We’ve been really encouraged by the
response to our Innovation Challenge.
The successful companies are
working on a wide range of projects
from across the timber spectrum,
from prototyping new modular
housing models in CLT to trialling the
blowing of wood fibre insulation into
innovative offsite systems. I’m really
looking forward to seeing the projects
progress.”
To find out more about the Innovation
Factory and how to take advantage
of it, contact the CSIC team on
[email protected], 0141 212 5250 or
http://www.cs-ic.org.ACCORDING to the latest findings
published in Savills Spotlight at the end
of March 2018, the UK forestry market
continues to demonstrate a degree of
resilience, posting another year of strong
performance.
During the 2017 tax year the total value
of the forestry investment market increased
by 24% to over £112 million, compared with
around £90 million in 2016. The value of
forestry transacted during 2017 was 25%
higher than the medium-term average,
although significantly lower than the £
million in 2015.
Despite the large increase in the overall
value of the market, the total area sold
across the UK actually fell to just over
18,000 hectares during 2017, representing
a reduction of 8% on the 2016 forest year,
but in line with the medium-term average.
Contraction of the market area, coupled
with an increase in the overall value
traded, resulted in rising average
values.
Domestic timber continues to drive
value in the forest property sector,
supported by a weaker sterling and
the increasing demand for wood in
biomass and construction.
Average productive values
across the UK rose by 20% to
£9,300 per hectare, following a
fall in average values during
the previous year – in 2016 this was largely
due to the location of properties traded, with
over 80% north of the Forth–Clyde canal.
James Adamson, Savills’ head of forestry
investment, said: “A sustained period of low
interest rates has stimulated the UK forestry
investment market, driving cash-holding
investors to look for alternatives. Forest
ownership is perceived as straightforward,
long-term and low-risk in uncertain times.
“Our research tells us that cash on deposit
would have accumulated 19% in value
before tax since the financial crisis of 2008;
meanwhile trees growing on a hill in South
Scotland would have accumulated 35% over
the same time. Throw in the inflationary
growth in capital market value and the
performance is boosted to over 80%.
“New planting remains an area
of focus. 2017 saw some progress
in England, and Scotland is now
beginning to reap the benefit of
strong Government support and a
keen industry. However, there is
still much to be done in this
sector and the availability
of physically suitable land
at an appropriate price
remains the biggest
challenge.”UK market
shows
strong
performance
£100,000 FOR
INNOVATION
James Adamson
(picture Copyright
Chris Watt).Flow chart as visualised by Savills.