Timber! Stockland drops steel to chop carbon
An innovative timber framing product developed in-house by Stockland has achieved a major reduction in embodied carbon at new homes in the company’s land lease communities (LLCs), and has put projects on the way to achieving decarbonisation targets set for 2030.
Driven both by internal carbon reduction targets and by land lease legislation in Victoria and Queensland, Stockland is transitioning from steel to timber frames in the construction of LLC homes. This shift has been made possible through collaborations with external partners, including Metricon and Buildlab, among others.
Steven Jennings, General Manager at TownLiving by Metricon, praised the collaboration with Stockland, emphasising its impact on sustainability and innovation.
“At Metricon, sustainability and innovation are at the core of how we design and build homes. Collaborating with Stockland on their timber framing system not only reinforces our shared commitment to decarbonisation but also ensures we deliver homes that are both environmentally responsible and built to last."
“This partnership is a fantastic example of how the industry can work together to reduce carbon emissions while meeting construction standards and legislative requirements.”
Jennings also noted the practical benefits of the initiative, adding: “This collaboration delivers not only environmental gains but also efficiency and value for the LLC homeowners and those communities.”
Brett Cooper, General Manager at Buildlab, which also partners with Stockland on the transition, commented on how great it is to see Stockland focused on improving the environmental impact of their developments.
“We were really happy to assist them with this change. We have enjoyed partnering on their LLC projects and delivering these beautifully designed homes to their valued customers,” Cooper said.
Stockland has developed the timber framing and truss system compliant with Forest Stewardship Council guidelines, and these have already been used in the first stages of construction in the Halcyon Evergreen, Horizon, Highlands and Jardin LLC projects in Victoria.
The difference in embodied carbon between structural timber and conventional steel is up to 97%. Substitution of structural steel with timber across the frame and truss of an LLC home leads to a 37% reduction in upfront carbon intensity. This system will be used in new projects and the new stages of existing developments from mid 2025.
“We are committed to decarbonisation in our LLCs and realised that we had to make some changes,” says Murray Shuttleworth, Stockland’s LLC sector lead.
“We have developed a methodology which reduces the engineering cost in constructing the frame, reduces the carbon intensity and also satisfies the relevant LLC legislation in each of the states we operate in.”
Stockland is now utilising 100% timber frame and truss on all new projects in QLD and the first ever LLC projects in NSW and WA have now begun construction utilising this structural system.
In addition to helping meet carbon reduction targets and compliance, the substitution of timber for steel also delivers trade and supply efficiency, with the benefits increasing as the development of LLCs scales in coming years.
Contractors have responded positively to the initiative and they have been able to procure the timber frame systems from multiple suppliers and manufacturers, as well as increasing trade availability in many instances.
Murray Shuttleworth said the timber products perform in the same way as steel and provide the same structural integrity.
“The thermal performance of the homes is not impacted by the change in method, and the new homes will all have a 7 Star NatHERS rating in accordance with the National Construction Code 2022 requirements,” he said.
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