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First FSC certified project completed

Posted: 03/03/2007

The world’s first construction project to be fully certified to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Project Certification Standards has been delivered by Hollybrook Homes a month earlier than planned and within budget.

The 73-home timber-framed housing complex, Westside Apartments in Ilford, is the first project to receive full certification under the new FSC Project Certification Standard. Independent certification body, BM TRADA who were responsible for overseeing the development of the pilot scheme and certifying the project have stated:

“Full Project Certification verifies that over 50% of the timber used is FSC certified and the rest is legal timber from known sources. It is independently verified so the building continues the FSC Chain of Custody certification beyond the timber suppliers to the actual building site. In this particular case we can confirm that 100% of timber used in Westside Apartments is FSC Certified.”

Although the building has unique environmental credentials, the development was never intended as an eco-build, it was always a commercial development and whilst embracing the FSC's principles the project has remained within a conventional construction budget.

Andy Suttle, construction director of Hollybrook Homes explains: "We implemented a simple control system which was easy to manage on site and within our normal working practices. Once in place it made the process towards certification straightforward. Along the way we also convinced some of our suppliers to move towards FSC Certification. The whole of the company is proud to have delivered a world first, but most importantly for us and our customers, it has been delivered ahead of schedule and within budget. This is especially pleasing as it is here in our home city of London and we believe it sets a new construction standard.”

Perth-based Glenalmond Timber Company played a key role in bringing the various parties together for the pilot scheme. Fraser Steele, managing director of Glenalmond Timber said: “This is a tremendous achievement for all concerned. We have been committed to FSC for over five years and the number of projects seeking to use FSC timber is increasing daily. FSC need not be financially prohibitive, we can confirm that the price difference of using FSC certified timber is so marginal that it makes little difference across the whole project. The only variation in pricing may be for tropical hardwood but, as this usually makes up only a very small percentage of timber used in a project such as Westside Apartments, any differential in price is relatively insignificant.”

Greenpeace has also given its full backing to the project. Ben Ayliffe, Greenpeace forest campaigner explains: "Greenpeace believe that this Hollybrook Homes project, the first fully FSC Certified Project in the world, is showing the rest of the construction industry that not only is FSC possible but it can be done on time and on budget. Westside Apartments is leading the way for the rest of the industry and setting the benchmark, showing that FSC is both affordable and achievable.”

“We are delighted that the project has been such a success. It shows other major construction projects on the horizon, most notably the Olympics, that getting FSC project certification is the only way to go." he added.

The Westside Apartments complex has recently been sold by Hollybrook to leading London housing association Tower Homes and includes 73 mixed-tenure, affordable, homes – 25 of them specifically for “key workers” and 15 of them to be offered on a shared-ownership basis.

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