Housebuilder OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY Pitmans WINNER Bewley Homes
Christopher Avery (centre) of sponsor Pitmans presented the award to Colin Brooks (second right), Neil Simpson (left) and Stephen Trenwith (second left) of Bewley Homes
Next up came ‘Housebuilder of the Year’, a much sought-after award title – which was obvious from the tension in the room as Jeremy Vine introduced the three contenders on the shortlist: Bewley Homes, Linden Homes and Thomas Homes.
Headquartered in the Thames Valley at Baughurst, near Tadley, Bewley Homes has been designing and building quality homes for more than two decades – “homes that people would aspire to own, located in highly desirable locations”. Distinctive design is one USP and finding sustainable solutions is another.
The company has won numerous awards for its strong environmental credentials. It has remained independent, and focuses on customer service and design-led development, such as the conversion of listed Douai Abbey at Woolhampton.
Linden Homes has built more than 3,000 new homes in 130 locations throughout Britain, and has many national awards for its schemes. Linden is known for high standards of design, construction and customer services
Recently named Housebuilder of the Year at the Ideal Home Show, Linden Homes, the house-building division of Galliford Try, has announced £70 million of regional housing investment as its business continues to grow.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – JUNE 2014
It prides itself on working with local communities and last year won Sustainable Housebuilder and numerous other awards. Linden’s Thames Valley office at Milton Park, Abingdon completed 124 homes in 2013.
Thomas Homes is a Thatcham-based company known for its sensitive approach to new build and conversion projects. One of its showcase sites has been the impressive redevelopment of the former Fair Mile Hospital at Cholsey with its extensive grounds and access to a mile of River Thames frontage. It opened in 1870 and was closed in 2003.
Established in 1974, Thomas Homes has been lauded for its Fair Mile development with many of the phases being released early to satisfy demand. This landmark Oxfordshire development has seen former hospital buildings converted into a sympathetic ‘village’, including the restoration of the hospital’s former Great Hall, which is now a multifunctional hall available for residents and the wider Cholsey community. More than 350 residents from the development and Cholsey village turned out to support its opening in January by television’s baking queen Mary Berry.
Christopher Avery, managing partner of leading Thames Valley law firm Pitmans, came to the stage to announce the winner.
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And, to cheers and applause he revealed the name of Bewley Homes.
Colin Brooks, chairman of Bewley Homes, commented later: “It is fantastic for us to have won this title and to gain recognition in an area which is very important to us, because we are a locally-based company with most of our staff being born and bred in Reading and the Thames Valley.
“In developments you leave a footprint on a town or area, and that footprint will be there long after the builder. So, in our developments it is important to me that we really try to reflect the architecture and prosperity of the location.
“We are very design-led and really haven’t got a standard house-type – some are similar, but they always appear different – and we really try to make our developments blend into the local environment. The greatest compliment that I can receive is that you have passed down a road and not known where our development is.”
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