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 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.
“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. Some of the articles we covered in the past 20 years are included below:
Marking the Kingspan Potton marriage
Potton unveils timber self-build “Lighthouse”
Kingspan Century consolidates UK timber building market
Potton launches three-storey design
