Wood it be possible: constructing timber houses in the Netherlands

Summary

The Dutch government has set a target to build 900,000 new houses by 2030, with a focus on circular and sustainable materials, such as wood. This study aims to identify the underlying barriers and enablers to realise more timber constructions in the Netherlands. To categorise the different barriers and enablers we rely on the COM-B framework which distinguishes capability, opportunity, and motivation of system behaviour. We found that stakeholders, throughout the construction chain, remain positive, with significant investments in timber construction indicating potential growth. However, advocating for timber construction’s environmental benefits in industry assessments is necessary to ensure fair competition with traditional materials.