28 Houses
£0.5m Timber Frame Package
1.5 Units Per Week
//Qualis Commercial & Pinewood Structures Partnership
The end client for this development was Qualis Commercial, the property development arm of Epping Forest District Council. Qualis is dedicated to building high-quality, sustainable homes and commercial spaces, with all profits reinvested back into the council to support community services.
The principal contractor, 3Ace, is a multi-disciplinary company with expertise across building, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Their commitment to quality and a collaborative approach made them an ideal partner for this residential scheme.
Pinewood Structures was appointed by 3Ace to design, supply, and erect the timber frame superstructure for 28 new homes in Waltham Abbey. This project successfully transformed a disused site into a modern, energy-efficient residential development.
Our off-site manufactured closed panel system was key to achieving a rapid build programme while ensuring the highest standards of quality and thermal performance.
//Roundhills Development Project Details
The Roundhills project required the construction of 28 new homes on the site of a former swimming pool in Waltham Abbey.
The key requirements included:
- A total of 28 terraced and semi-detached houses.
- A timber frame package valued at over £0.5m.
- An efficient build programme with a target erection rate of 1.5 units per week.
- A high standard of thermal performance to create energy-efficient homes.
Pinewood Structures engaged with Qualis Commercial early in the design phase, providing key support with value engineering and design rationalisation to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective solution was taken forward. We then delivered a comprehensive timber frame package utilising our high-performance closed panel system.
The specification included:
- External Walls: 140mm closed panels factory-fitted with 120mm PIR insulation, achieving a U-value of 0.15 W/m²/k.
- Floors: 304mm deep metal-web joists for structural strength and ease of service installation.
- Roof: Prefabricated pitched trusses, assembled on-site to accelerate the build programme.
- Party Walls: Built to the robust E-WT-2 detail for excellent acoustic and fire performance.
By manufacturing the panels off-site, we ensured quality control and enabled a rapid, predictable, and efficient erection process on site, meeting the client’s programme requirements.
//Final Results
The Roundhills development demonstrates how early collaboration and specialist timber frame expertise can help deliver high-quality homes efficiently and with confidence.
As this was 3Ace’s first timber frame project, Pinewood Structures worked closely with the contractor from the outset, providing technical expertise, practical guidance and responsive support throughout the design, manufacture and construction process.
Reflecting on the project, the Managing Director of 3Ace commented:
“As this was our first timber frame project, the support from Pinewood Structures was invaluable. Their team’s expertise and collaborative approach guided us through the process, ensuring a smooth and efficient build. We are extremely pleased with the quality of the finished homes and look forward to working with Pinewood again.”
By combining Pinewood Structures’ off-site manufacturing expertise with the delivery capabilities of 3Ace and the vision of Qualis Commercial, the project was completed successfully, delivering 28 high-quality, energy-efficient homes.
The scheme highlights the benefits of modern timber frame construction, including improved build efficiency, consistent quality and a collaborative approach that gives contractors confidence when adopting off-site construction for the first time.
