Leading UK timber frame manufacturer, Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has been appointed to the Building Better dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for MMC category 2 construction systems.

Building Better is an alliance of 30 housing associations and councils supported by the National Housing Federation. The objective of the alliance is to ensure its members have access to a variety of MMC solutions to provide suitable, trustworthy and high-quality solutions for every type of site they develop. The DPS was launched in May 2022 following its original volumetric framework in 2021 and aims to produce approximately 5,000 MMC properties by 2026.

In England, there is a total housing backlog of four million homes across the country. With new house build completions hitting just 175,390 in 2021, there was a shortfall of 164,610 completed homes that year – and the trend is expected to be similar for 2022. To address the overall shortfall, 340,000 homes need to be built every year until 2031. DTS’ appointment to the Building Better DPS will support this objective by increasing the number of timber frame homes constructed.

 Mike Perry, business development director of Donaldson Timber Systems, said: “We are thrilled to have been appointed to Building Better’s DPS and to have the opportunity to work with its members. With over 215,000 homes managed by the member organisations, it provides a great opportunity for us to increase our presence in the affordable housing market.

“MMC systems are an increasingly important consideration for developers of all kinds, and our offsite timber frame systems can play a leading role in housing associations and local authorities meeting the energy requirements of new homes. By demonstrating our quality and experience to Building Better, we are now a trustworthy resource for these members and look forward to working in partnership with its members.”

Trina Chakravarti, project director at Building Better also commented: “We are pleased to welcome Donaldson Timber Systems into our group of category 2 offsite manufacturing partners. Building Better is aggregating demand in the affordable sector so our members can procure high quality, sustainable offsite homes at the right price. We’re confident that Donaldson Timber Systems will be able to work with us and our members in delivering the sector’s housing ambitions over the next three years.”

DTS prides itself on being highly sustainable, innovative and efficient. With unrivalled experience and knowledge in offsite construction, DTS has an established history of bringing new commercial and operational innovations to the market. One example is the Sigma II closed panel system, offering near-passivhaus standards of performance and sustainability. The system is being widely used with housing developers, particularly with those driven by whole life costs and fabric performance, contributing positively to fuel poverty challenges.

Read more about Building Better here: https://buildingbetter.org.uk/