<b><b>Wimpey has made its move in the ever-changing top echelon of housebuilders by snapping up Alfred McAlpine Homes for £461 million. Wimpey chief executive Peter Johnson tells Ben Roskrow about the move, and stresses it is all about product and geography rather than regaining the firm's place as the UK's biggest housebuilder </b></b><br><b>It was just a matter of time. From the moment in February that the putative Beazer/Bryant merger morphed into the Persimmon and Taywood deals, eyes turned towards Wimpey and its new chief executive Peter Johnson. Would Wimpey swoop on an unsuspecting builder to re-establish its position at the top of the tree, a position lost to Persimmon after it took out Beazer? And if so, when? </b><br><b>At Wimpey head office, of course, there were other matters to address. A few short weeks before the big industry moves, Johnson had announced the integration of the group's two housing arms - Wimpey Homes and McLean. </b><br><b>This was a major operation in itself, resulting in the closure of eight offices, the loss of 435 jobs, decentralisation of design and procurement and savings of £20 million a year. </b><br><b><br> </b><br>&amp; <p></p><p>&amp; </p><p>&amp; </p><p>&amp; </p><p><b><b>Watching and waiting </b></b><br> While this transition was underway, …