The UK’s biggest housebuilder and a leading exponent of timber frame construction Persimmon is predicting record profits for the year ending December 31, 2002.

The company sold in excess of 12,300 homes (legal completions) during the year, up to 10% of which were constructed using timber prefabrication from several providers including Belan Ltd‘s Torwood factory.

A spokesperson for Persimmon said: “Timber frame represents an important element of Persimmon’s business, especially in Scotland, where traditionally this method of build is more popular.”

The company says it is continually looking to develop its use of modular construction and other factory finished products because off-site assembly in a controlled environment helps “improve the overall quality of build”.

&#8220Timber frame represents an important element of Persimmon’s business.”

Persimmon spokesperson

Overall forward sales for 2003 are in the region of £440m, 15% ahead of the same time last year.

Persimmon says it is continuing a drive to maximise profit per plot and to benefit from economies of scale brought by its acquisition of Beazer in 2001. This has enabled it to grow despite difficulties in the UK planning environment which is “restricting” supply of new homes.