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Grand designs team working on Premier's timber. Picture by UPM/ILPO MUSTO

Newport-based timber importer Premier Forest Products is enjoying a taste of television stardom after agreeing to assist with a special project being broadcast live this week on Channel 4's hit show Grand Designs.

The popular show, which focuses on unusual architectural and self-build projects, is hosting its annual Grand Designs Live event at ExCel in London's Docklands area, broadcasting 11 hours of programming from the event.

At the heart of the event is a challenge to presenter Kevin McCloud to build a sustainable home on site in just six days, a challenge which will be covered in the special feature The House That Kevin Built'.

Premier, which is one of the UK's largest timber importers is providing 235 sheets of WISA-Spruce structural grade plywood, being used for various structural elements of the house. WISA-Spruce plywood is manufactured in Finland by UPM Plywood, Europe's largest plywood manufacturer and a long-standing supply partner of Premier. WISA-spruce is manufactured from locally sourced wood from sustainable forests and is PEFC certified.

McCloud is being joined by other famous Channel 4 faces, along with a host of celebrity guests for the ambitious project, which will see the tables well and truly turned on the presenter who is more used to passing judgement on the grand designs of other developers.

Terry Edgell, director at Premier, said: "The House That Kevin Built is an exciting and challenging project which we are very pleased to be involved with.

"The fact that the challenge is to produce a sustainable home sits comfortably with Premier's own standpoint on the importance of making the most of the world's only sustainable construction material, timber, and makes us a natural fit for the project. Many of the staff here regularly enjoy watching the programme, and the fact that Premier has contributed to this particular challenge should lead to even more tuning in."

The House That Kevin Built aims to show that even in the 21st century it is still possible to build a home with your own hands. The building is a mix of traditional building methods, cutting edge design and new technologies.

Architect Duncan Baker-Brown, who has won numerous awards for his work in sustainable architecture, is involved in the project, working alongside McCloud to put the vision into reality.

Once Grand Designs Live has ended, the building will be carefully dismantled and transferred to a new home at the Building Research Establishment in Hertfordshire, where it will be open to the public.

1:44pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

Kevin McCloud, of Grand Designs

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