Construction work has started on Robertson Timber Products’ (RTP) £5m timber frame plant in Seaham, County Durham.
The factory, intended to help Scottish-based RTP meet demand for timber frame in England, is to be completed in July with its first order being a six-storey apartment project in Manchester by David McLean Homes. The £1.1m order is the company’s biggest ever contract.
Paul Smollett, commercial manager at David McLean Homes, said: “We recognise that the speed of construction provided by timber frame will provide us with considerable benefits on a project of this size, and it will also provide our clients with environmentally-friendly homes for the future.”
The new 32,000m2 factory, which will produce timber frame kits and buildings for the housing market and commercial projects, will create 40 jobs within the first two years. Projected turnover for RTP will be more than £40m by the end of 2005.
The company already has a timber frame production plant at Elgin, with customers including Compass, for Travel Lodges throughout England, and Persimmon Homes in Scotland.
