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New manufacturing company to open in South Wales

April 2005

Goodwins Timber Frame, an Irish based company supplying the construction industry, has purchased an 80,000 ft2 factory building near Risca, Newport and is currently developing it to become a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for timber frame buildings.

Due to open in early June, Goodwins are hard at work installing the latest and most sophisticated computer controlled machinery used in the manufacture of timber frame building kits. Equipment has been brought in from Germany, Sweden and Spain and is being installed in the existing building at Pontymister, which was formerly used by Midland Steel Supplies. Goodwins Timber Frame will be creating up to 45 new jobs and will be looking to employ a range of skilled staff, including engineering graduates and skilled tradesmen.

The site was chosen for its close proximity to the motorway network and for access to a pool of skilled labour in the area. The factory is part of an 8 acre site which Goodwins has also purchased and which has considerable potential for further development. A number of site proposals are being considered which could re-vitalise the commercial life of the area.

Managing Director of the Goodwins Group, Jonathan Goodwin, is delighted to be in Wales. “The expansion of our business into the promising UK market makes very good business sense. We are delighted to have found such an excellent location in Wales and have been actively supported by the Welsh Development Agency. The potential for successful growth in this area is enormous and we look forward to our official opening in June.”

In the last 12 months, the demand for timber frame building has grown by 20% in the UK making it the fastest growing sector in the construction industry. Timber frame building not only meets the need for affordable housing, but also addresses the skills shortages in the building industry and offers considerable environmental benefits to home owners.

The UK timber frame sector is now worth £400m a year and in Scotland 80% of new building is constructed this way. In the UK as a whole 15% of new building is of timber frame construction and industry predictions expect this to grow to 17% by 2006. [Market Report from the UK Timber Frame Association]

Well established in Ireland where the timber frame concept is well accepted, Goodwins Timber Frame kits are suitable for every type of new housing, including blocks of flats and large multiple units as well as individual houses. The panelled main construction frames can be up to 14m long and are assembled in the factory, before being delivered as an entire wall or floor section to the site. This means that the ‘shell’ of a house can be complete within a few days, rather than several weeks using with traditional methods. Because Timber Frame housing is erected much faster, such houses are less expensive to build and help to meet the government’s aim in providing affordable housing.

According to Nick Raynsford MP, Minister with responsibility for Building Regulations, “Timber Frame Construction is contributing to the drive to provide people with good, modern homes of proven sustainability and efficient construction. It also serves my Government’s aims of reducing CO2 emissions.”

For more information contact Kay Hobday at Full House Productions
Tel: 01454 310246
Fax: 01454 880404
Mobile: 07774 816534
Email: kay@fullhouseproductions.co.uk