Barratt Redrow

Barratt Redrow is a British residential property development group formed through the combination of Barratt Developments and Redrow in October 2024. The group is headquartered in Coalville, Leicestershire, at offices formerly associated with David Wilson Homes, and operates primarily in England, Wales and Scotland. Its consumer-facing housebuilding brands include Barratt Homes, Barratt London, David Wilson Homes and Redrow. The group also has activities in commercial property development through Wilson Bowden Developments and in timber-frame manufacturing through Oregon Timber Frame. The business originated in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1958, when accountant Lawrie Barratt joined builder Lewis Greensitt to establish Greensitt Brothers. Barratt had previously purchased land near Newcastle and built a house himself, an experience that helped shape his interest in residential development and the affordability of homes for first-time buyers. The company became Greensitt & Barratt and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1968. After Greensitt left, the business adopted the Barratt Developments name in 1973. During the 1970s, Barratt expanded rapidly through acquisitions, including the Manchester-based Arthur Wardle and the Luton-based Janes. The company developed a national presence and became one of the largest British housebuilders. Its marketing emphasised professionally advertised starter homes, part-exchange arrangements and a highly visible brand identity. In the year ending June 1983, Barratt sold approximately 16,500 homes, making it the country's largest housebuilder at that time. The company experienced a major setback in the mid-1980s after two ITV World in Action programmes criticised aspects of its housing practices, including timber-framed construction and starter-home products. Sales fell sharply. Barratt responded with a substantial restructuring, discontinued timber-frame construction in its main product range, introduced revised house designs and shifted emphasis toward more profitable trade-up housing. The group also briefly developed an overseas presence through Barratt American in California, which was sold through a management buyout in 2004 as management refocused on the United Kingdom. The early-1990s recession placed further pressure on Barratt. Lawrie Barratt returned to active management, production was increased and the company again pursued first-time buyers. In 2007, Barratt ended a long period without a major acquisition by purchasing Wilson Bowden for approximately £2.7 billion. The transaction brought the David Wilson Homes, Ward Homes and Wilson Bowden Developments activities into the group and restored Barratt's position as Britain's largest housebuilder by scale. The global financial crisis caused a severe downturn. Barratt restructured its banking arrangements, recorded a property-related write-off of nearly £600 million and reduced its workforce by about 700 positions in 2009. It later returned to growth, formed Barratt Residential Asset Management in 2012 to manage properties on Barratt London developments, and sold that operation to FirstPort in 2019. The group also acquired Oregon Timber Frame in 2019, strengthening control over an important construction-material supply chain. Environmental and construction innovation became more prominent in the 2020s. Barratt set science-based carbon-reduction targets, committed to developing zero-carbon homes from 2030 and stated an ambition to become a net-zero business by 2040. Projects associated with its sustainability and modern-construction work have included Energy House 2.0, the Green House at BRE Innovation Park, Hanham Hall, Derwenthorpe and Kingsbrook. In February 2024, Barratt agreed to acquire Redrow in a transaction valued at approximately £2.5 billion. The Competition and Markets Authority reviewed the combination, including concerns about competition in north Shropshire, before the transaction was completed. On 7 October 2024, the…

Barratt Developments began in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1958 as Greensitt Brothers, founded by Lawrie Barratt and Lewis Greensitt. Barratt's initial interest in housebuilding followed his purchase and development of land near Newcastle. The business expanded from a local builder into a national housebuilder, became Greensitt & Barratt and was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1968. After Greensitt's departure, it was renamed Barratt Developments in 1973. The company grew quickly during the 1970s through acquisitions, notably Arthur Wardle and Janes. Its national advertising and focus on starter homes, part-exchange and first-time buyers helped create a recognizable consumer brand. By the year ending June 1983, it had sold around 16,500 homes and was the UK's largest housebuilder. Barratt's growth was followed by criticism. Two ITV World in Action programmes in 1983 and 1984 questioned aspects of its timber-framed houses and starter-home activities. Sales subsequently declined considerably. The company undertook a broad restructuring, abandoned timber-framed construction in its principal housing range, revised its product portfolio and focused more heavily on trade-up customers. It also developed Barratt American in California during the 1980s, later selling the overseas business through a management buyout in 2004. The early-1990s recession caused another serious downturn and brought Lawrie Barratt back from retirement to lead the business. The company increased production and re-emphasised first-time buyers. During the housing expansion of the late 1990s and early 2000s, competitors consolidated, and Barratt followed in 2007 by acquiring Wilson Bowden for approximately £2.7 billion. The transaction added David Wilson Homes, Ward Homes and Wilson Bowden Developments and made Barratt the largest UK housebuilder by output. The financial crisis then produced a sharp contraction. Barratt renegotiated its financing, recorded a write-off of nearly £600 million and eliminated about 700 jobs in 2009. In the following decade it developed new partnerships and supporting businesses. Barratt Residential Asset Management was formed in 2012 to provide not-for-profit property-management services on Barratt London developments and was sold to FirstPort in 2019. Barratt also bought Oregon Timber Frame in 2019. From 2020, the group placed greater emphasis on carbon reduction, modern methods of construction and future zero-carbon housing. It set science-based targets and stated ambitions to deliver zero-carbon homes from 2030 and achieve net zero across the business by 2040. In 2024, Barratt agreed to acquire Redrow. Following regulatory review and completion, the combined company became Barratt Redrow plc on 7 October 2024. The enlarged group retained the Barratt, David Wilson and Redrow consumer brands and continued operating as a UK-focused residential developer.

1. 2024Redrow combination completed

   Barratt completes its acquisition of Redrow and becomes Barratt Redrow plc.

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2. 2020Carbon and net-zero targets announced

   Barratt sets science-based reduction targets and announces ambitions for zero-carbon homes from 2030 and a net-zero business by 2040.

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3. 2019Oregon Timber Frame acquired

   Barratt acquires a major UK timber-frame manufacturer.

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4. 2009Financial restructuring after the crisis

   The company records a major write-off and reduces its workforce while restructuring its finances.

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5. 2007Wilson Bowden acquired

   Barratt acquires Wilson Bowden, bringing the David Wilson Homes and related businesses into the group.

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6. 2004Barratt American is sold

   The group's US subsidiary is sold through a management buyout as Barratt concentrates on its UK operations.

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7. 1983Record annual home sales

   Barratt sells approximately 16,500 homes in the preceding twelve months and becomes the UK's largest housebuilder.

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8. 1973Barratt Developments name adopted

   Following Lewis Greensitt's departure, the company is renamed Barratt Developments.

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9. 1968London Stock Exchange flotation

   The company, then known as Greensitt & Barratt, becomes publicly listed.

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10. 1958Greensitt Brothers is founded

    Lawrie Barratt and Lewis Greensitt establish the Newcastle-based housebuilding business that becomes Barratt Developments.

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A major UK volume housebuilder offering new-build homes across entry-level, family, premium and urban segments, supported by commercial-development and construction-supply activities.

• Barratt HomesResidential development

  Barratt Homes is the group's principal mainstream housebuilding brand. It develops new-build houses and apartments for a broad range of buyers, including first-time purchasers, families and customers moving up the housing ladder. Developments are delivered across multiple UK regions and typically combine standardized house types with locally adapted layouts, tenure mixes and public-realm designs.

• David Wilson HomesResidential development

  David Wilson Homes entered the group through the 2007 Wilson Bowden acquisition. It is positioned toward larger family homes and higher-specification regional developments than the core Barratt Homes offer, although the precise mix varies by location. The brand operates across numerous UK markets and remains one of Barratt Redrow's principal consumer-facing businesses.

• Barratt LondonUrban residential development

  Barratt London develops housing and mixed-use residential schemes in Greater London. Its projects include apartments, houses and larger regeneration-led developments, often delivered with local authorities, housing associations or other partners. The business has also been associated with dedicated estate-management arrangements for completed London developments.

• RedrowResidential development

  Redrow became part of Barratt Redrow through the 2024 acquisition. The brand is retained as a major housebuilding identity within the enlarged group and contributes residential developments across the UK, including family housing, larger planned communities and schemes incorporating affordable housing.

• Wilson Bowden DevelopmentsCommercial property development

  Wilson Bowden Developments is the group's commercial-property arm. It develops UK employment, industrial and mixed commercial sites, including the Optimus Point project at Glenfield in Leicestershire. The business complements Barratt Redrow's residential land and development activities.

• Oregon Timber FrameConstruction manufacturing2019

  Oregon Timber Frame manufactures timber-frame components for housebuilding. Barratt acquired the business in 2019, adding manufacturing capacity and supply-chain control through facilities in Selkirk and Derby.

• 2020Science-based carbon reduction and zero-carbon homes programme

  United Kingdom

  Barratt announced science-based carbon-reduction targets, an ambition to build zero-carbon homes from 2030 and a net-zero business target for 2040. The programme was supported by experimentation with energy-efficient designs and modern construction methods.

  Outcome. Long-term sustainability programme

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• 2024Combine with RedrowM&A

  Barratt and Redrow sought greater scale in a UK market affected by mortgage costs, planning constraints and weaker housing demand.

  What changed. Barratt agreed to acquire Redrow for approximately £2.5 billion and completed the transaction after shareholder and competition review.

  Aftermath. The enlarged group became Barratt Redrow plc and planned integration through office closures, supply-chain consolidation and combination of central functions.

  Acquisition value. £2.5 billion (2024)

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• 2020Commit to lower-carbon constructionStrategy

  The housebuilding sector faced increasing pressure to reduce operational and embodied carbon.

  What changed. Barratt set science-based targets and announced ambitions for zero-carbon homes from 2030 and a net-zero business by 2040.

  Aftermath. The group expanded sustainability experimentation through projects such as Energy House 2.0, Hanham Hall and Kingsbrook.

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• 2007Acquire Wilson BowdenM&A

  The UK housebuilding market was consolidating and Barratt had not made a major acquisition for almost three decades.

  What changed. Barratt acquired Wilson Bowden for approximately £2.7 billion, adding David Wilson Homes, Ward Homes and Wilson Bowden Developments.

  Aftermath. The transaction restored Barratt's position as the UK's largest housebuilder by scale.

  Acquisition value. £2.7 billion (2007)

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• 2024CMA information-sharing investigationControversy

  The CMA investigated Barratt and other housebuilders over alleged sharing of commercially sensitive information that could affect site build-out and new-home prices. The investigation concerned possible competition-law breaches and did not by itself establish liability.

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• 2020Citiscape and concrete-frame defectsControversy

  During cladding-remediation work at Citiscape in Croydon, defects were found in the reinforced-concrete frame. Reviews identified similar issues at additional developments, producing substantial remediation obligations and the temporary rehousing of residents.

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• 2019Leasehold house sales investigationControversy

  The CMA investigated alleged mis-selling connected with leasehold houses. It closed the investigation in 2022, stating that a successful legal case was unlikely and noting that Barratt had changed its practices and no longer sold leasehold houses.

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• 1983World in Action criticism of timber-frame housingControversy

  An ITV World in Action programme criticised aspects of Barratt's timber-framed housing. A second programme the following year addressed starter homes. The publicity was followed by a major decline in sales and a company restructuring.

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• 2024Barratt agrees to acquire Redrow

  Barratt Developments announced an agreed offer to acquire rival housebuilder Redrow in a transaction valued at approximately £2.5 billion.

  M&A
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• 2024Competition regulator reviews Barratt–Redrow combination

  The UK Competition and Markets Authority examined the proposed transaction and identified localized competition concerns in north Shropshire before allowing the deal to proceed.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2024Barratt Redrow begins operating as enlarged group

  Following completion of the Redrow acquisition and regulatory clearance, the combined company adopted the Barratt Redrow name.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2024Competition regulator examines the Barratt–Redrow transaction

  The Competition and Markets Authority reviewed possible effects of the proposed merger, identifying a competition concern in north Shropshire before the investigation was closed.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2024Barratt Redrow begins post-merger consolidation

  Following completion, management announced plans involving divisional-office closures, central-function consolidation and supply-chain savings.

  M&A
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• 2019Barratt acquires Oregon Timber Frame

  Barratt purchased Oregon Timber Frame, a major UK timber-frame manufacturer and supplier, increasing vertical integration in construction materials.

  M&A
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1. Barratt Redrow
2. Barratt Developments plc / Redrow plc merger inquiry
3. Housebuilding companies and the sale of leasehold houses
4. CMA information-sharing investigation