House builder Bellway Homes is predicting a record year of profits and planning timber frame growth.
The company, which operates as 14 divisions nationwide, forecasts full year pre-tax earnings of £97.4m – up £8.3m.
As Bellway looks to a profitable future, it is investigating new developments in timber frame technology and is the first major homebuilder to erect a structural insulated panel (SIPs) house in the UK.
Group product development manager Iain Skeoch said: ‘We are concerned about the skills shortages on site, so due to various new timber frame type construction processes we have been able to get that into the factory.
‘We have done one prototype SIPs house in Durham which proved successful both in construction and the calculations we have done in terms of heat loss and sound insulation.
‘We reckon we can make a house watertight in nine and a half hours – it is three or four men and a crane driver.’
The panels, which were used for the walls and the roof, were manufactured by Scottish-based B-PAC and they gave Bellway another massive plus-point. A standard three-bedroom house type was transformed into a five-bedroom home as the open loft space could be used for extra living accommodation.
Bellway has struck a deal with Scottish Power whereby, once the house is sold, its fuel economy performance will be monitored for a year.
The company proposes to explore further ways of using timber frame, particularly for low rise city flats. Timber frame currently represents about 10% of its construction, with Scotland and Thames Gateway the major players.
