Westbury Homes‘ new £15m timber frame factory was opened by DTI minister Stephen Byers MP last week.

But the project – and the government’s backing for timber frame – came in for some criticism on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme last Friday.

The 222,000ft² facility, set to produce 5,000 prefabricated timber frame houses per year, was described on the popular breakfast-time current affairs programme as a ‘gimmick’ by building industry commentator Geoff Howell.

Mr Howell, who was being interviewed alongside Warwick University academic Nick Matthews, who helped devise the innovative manufacturing process for Westbury Homes, said: ‘You have to wonder what state these houses will be in in 10-15 years time. Who is going to repair them?

‘This is a gimmick, in a couple of years time you won’t hear anything more about it.’

Mr Matthews, Warwick University principal fellow in the Department of Engineering, rebutted Mr Howell’s criticisms but, after the interview, said he feared he had been ‘got the better of’.

‘I was basically done over by a brick and block luddite,’ he told TTJ.

Westbury Homes insists that building trade labour shortages, tighter building regulations and the ease of prefabricated construction will mean more housebuilders turning away from brick and block.

The Space4 production system used by Westbury’s new factory is the result of a £0.5m five-year-long research and development programme conducted with Warwick University.

After his visit Mr Byers said: ‘This is going to be one of the technologies of the future. It won’t just be good news for building in Britain, but good news for building throughout the world.’

STOP PRESS. Westbury announced record profits this week of £63.7m for the last financial year, up 19% on the 2000 figure of £53.6m. Continued growth is forecast for the coming year.