The new assessment framework has been specifically developed by SWK for timber-stacked construction. This is a construction method that offers significant opportunities to make housing construction more sustainable and to scale up the use of renewable materials. At the same time, the use of timber in stacked residential buildings requires specific expertise and careful decisions regarding design, detailing, moisture control and execution. The new framework brings together this knowledge and these requirements, enabling a thorough, comprehensive assessment to be carried out in advance.

Suzanne Kocken, Managing Director of SWK: “We are delighted with this milestone. In collaboration with participants including AM, BAM and insurers, we have taken the initiative to ensure effective risk management regarding the quality of multi-storey timber-frame homes. This intensive collaboration has led to the first planning approval for the Leeuwepoort project under the new assessment framework.”

Over the past period, SWK, AM, BAM and specialist consultants have worked closely together on an approach that better safeguards quality, reliability and insurability. Now that the first project has been approved under this framework, the wider use of timber as a building material is another step closer.

Gilbert Kokenberg, Director of Project Development at AM: “This planning approval is much more than a formal step for Leeuwepoort. It demonstrates what becomes possible when parties share knowledge and develop solutions together for new construction methods and materials. Stacked timber construction is essential for making housing construction more sustainable. Scaling up requires trust, quality and clear frameworks. The fact that Leeuwepoort has been approved as the first project under this new assessment framework is therefore a significant milestone – both for us and for the further development of timber construction in the Netherlands.”

Leeuwepoort is being built in the Leeuwesteyn neighbourhood of Utrecht and comprises 113 homes. Timber plays a key role in the sustainable design concept. The 58 flats in this project will feature a timber structural framework and have been assessed against the new SWK assessment framework. Wood is also being used structurally in some of the ground-floor Flow homes. Construction of Leeuwepoort is being carried out by BAM. Binderholz is supplying the prefabricated timber components for the flats, whilst BAM Woodconcepts is supplying those for the ground-floor Flow homes. Construction of the flats is due to start in September 2026.