Robertson Timberkit‘s £5m factory in County Durham has been officially opened, marking the company’s expansion into the rapidly-expanding English timber frame market.
The Seaham facility, opened by National House Building Council chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi, will quadruple Scotland-based Robertson’s production capacity, boosting turnover to an estimated £40m by the end of 2005.
The 34,500 ft2 factory, completed in July, already has long term relationships in place to supply and erect timber frames for large UK housebuilders and contractors, including Bellway, Persimmon, Lovells, Cala, Fairclough Homes and David McLean Homes.
Robertson has recently secured a three-year contract with Kier Partnership Housing in London, in association with the Amphion Consortium, which comprises more than 15 housing associations.
A second contract from Cala Homes, valued at £1.4m, is its highest value single contract to date.
David Graham-Service, managing director of Robertson Timberkit, said: “The timber frame market is expanding rapidly in the UK, with an expected 20% growth by 2005. Therefore, it was important for Robertson Timberkit to invest in the north of England and its operations to meet the current market demand.”
The factory, which will create more than 40 jobs in the local area, produces a wide range of timber frame structures, for private housing, social housing projects, multi-storey flat developments and care homes.
Mr Farookhi described the investment as a vote of confidence in Robertson Timberkit and the future of UK house building.
