Building Smarter: Comparing Traditional and Timber Frame Construction

[Sustainable Living] Sept 01, 2025

On two neighbouring sites in West Yorkshire, we’re running one of our most insightful trials yet – building the same homes in two different ways to see what really works best.

Across the two sites, we’re delivering 240 homes: 112 using traditional masonry construction and 128 using modern timber frame. Many of the house types are identical, giving us a rare opportunity to compare how the two methods perform – from the first brick (or panel) laid through to everyday living once residents move in.

What We’re Measuring

Throughout construction, we’re tracking:

Waste generated
On-site energy consumption
On-site water consumption

Once occupied, we’ll monitor:

In-use energy consumption by residents

We’ll also assess:

The upfront carbon difference between traditional and timber frame builds
Any improvements in build times between the two methods

Specifications Under the Spotlight

Traditional build homes feature:

PV arrays sized to meet SAP’s Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) pass
External cavity wall U-value of 0.20 W/m²K, achieved with a 150mm cavity fully filled with cavity batt insulation
Air test target: 4.5 m³/h·m²
Timber frame homes feature:
PV arrays sized to achieve SAP B rating
5.18kWh battery storage to maximise renewable energy use
External cavity wall U-value of 0.18 W/m²K, achieved with a 50mm cavity and 80mm PIR within the frame
Air test target: 4.0 m³/h·m²

Future Homes Standard

Early Results

Even at this early stage, the trial is already revealing some compelling patterns. Timber frame homes are demonstrating faster build times and reduced waste, driven by the benefits of off-site manufacturing and precision design. Traditional homes, while slower to complete, provide greater on-site flexibility and integrate seamlessly with our established supply chain processes.

In addition, the timber frame properties on this project can achieve up to 33% greater energy efficiency. This advantage is not solely the result of modern methods of construction; it reflects a combination of factors, including improved thermal performance, lower air permeability, and the added benefit of battery storage, which enables residents to make greater use of their generated solar energy. 

Together, these features move us significantly closer to meeting the Future Homes Standard on these plots. Importantly, many of these technologies can also be applied to traditional builds, offering a pathway for this method to progress towards Future Homes Standard compliance as well.

a live experiment

Why It Matters

This side-by-side trial is giving us hard data, not assumptions, on how different construction methods affect costs, waste, carbon, energy, and build efficiency.

 By capturing this information at every stage – from embodied carbon before the homes are even built, through to energy bills months after occupation – we’re building a clear evidence base to inform how we design and deliver homes in the future.

 It’s more than two sites and 240 homes. It’s a live experiment in how housebuilding can adapt to meet the demands of lower-carbon living, resource efficiency, and better outcomes for residents.

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