6 | UK News
Kingspan Timber Solutions announces plans to close by end of 2025
systems, the latter being the TEK branded system.
Kingspan Timber Solutions, based in Great Gransden in Cambridgeshire, has been described as a gold standard in timber construction, building innovative homes, Passivhaus developments and new schools. In 2007, it built the Potton Lighthouse – the first net zero carbon show home in the UK. Its Potton self-build business, acquired in 2006, celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023.
Another landmark project - the £250m Center Parcs Woburn Forest site - featured 625 lodges manufactured by Kingspan Timber Solutions.
The company released a short statement this week.
Top: The Great Gransden manufacturing site Above: Kingspan timber systems being erected
Timber sector representatives have been reacting to the news that one of the pioneers in UK timber construction- Kingspan Timber Solutions – is to close by the end of the year. The company, whose roots extend to over 60 years, manufactures timber frame and Structurally Insulated Panel (SIPs) build
“It is with a heavy heart that we have made the difficult decision announce the closure of Kingspan Timber Solutions Ltd, and the cessation of all business operations. We are currently working hard to fulfil all outstanding orders, with our final day of operations being 19th December 2025. “We are deeply grateful to our valued customers and partners who have supported us over the years, it has been a privilege working with you.” In the past five years, 2021 was the only year that the company posted a profit.
Its most recently available set of accounts – for the year ended December 31, 2023 - show the business made a pre-tax loss of £1m from revenue of £13.1m (2022: £19.9m).
The business had made a pre-tax loss of £304,000 in 2022. In 2021 it recorded a pre-tax profit of £703,000.
In 2023, staff numbers were reduced to 66 from 90 the previous year. Timber industry representatives have been lamenting the loss on Linkedin. Paul Inch, director at Strata, formerly
worked at Potton, saying “Potton” was to timber frame homes what “Hoover” was to vacuum cleaners. He said the Potton brand’s enduring legacy within the self-build community would not be forgotten.
Another person described it as “sad news” and a reflection of how tough the current climate was for timber frame companies. “A travesty for the staff & industry as one of the iconic brands in timber frame, Potton, passes into history by the end of the year, at a time when the Government is targeting 300k builds per year on this parliament,” said another commentator. TTJ visited both Kingspan Timber Solutions and Potton over the decades, seeing the Kingspan TEK system erected on site, as well as Potton self-build homes.
Builders merchants still see uncertain current outlook in UK
Above: BMF CEO John Newcomb has been visiting members recently to gauge their pulse on market prospects
Figures released in the latest BMF Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) confirm sales growth for Q2, following two years of consistent declines, but the outlook is far from certain.
Stats released on September 1 show total year-on-year value sales in Q2 2025 grew by +2.8% compared to the same period
in 2024. With one less trading day this year, like-for-like value sales (which take account of trading day differences) were +4.5% higher. Volume was the key driver, with total volume sales increasing by +4.0%, while prices fell -1.1%. Value sales increased in nine of 12 product categories. The performance of the largest category, Heavy Building Materials (+2.7%) was in line with the overall market, with volumes up by 4.2%, and average price declining by 1.4%. Timber & Joinery Products, the second largest category, outperformed the total market with sales value increasing by +3.7% against Q2 2024.
A comparison of value growth in Q2 2025 with Q1 2025 shows total value sales in Q2 were +11.7% higher than in the previous three months. Total volume sales increased by +13.9%, and prices were down by -2.0%.
TTJ | September/October 2025 |
www.ttjonline.com
The Seasonal category of landscaping saw value sales increased by +46.8%. Fencing & gates and decking were the best-performing sub-categories here. The performance of two largest categories, Heavy Building Materials (+11.1%) and Timber & Joinery Products (+11.0%) was slightly behind the market average. Emile van der Ryst, Key Account Manager – Trade & DIY at NiQ GfK, said builders merchants’ recent performance had been promising. “Conditions, however, are still challenging,” she said. While there has been cautious optimism around the sector, the reality and impact of economic pressures could erode expected growth for the remainder of 2025.” John Newcomb, CEO of the BMF, said his recent visits to merchants revealed current trading conditions as “tough”. “Business is out there, but there is a lot of competition to win it, and the market is treating signs of recovery as tentative.”
UK News
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