Countryside Partnerships
Countryside Partnerships is a United Kingdom housebuilding and urban-regeneration business operating primarily in London and southern England.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Countryside Partnerships is the name used by the United Kingdom housebuilder and urban-regeneration company formerly known as Countryside Properties. The business developed residential communities, mixed-tenure housing, large-scale urban extensions and regeneration schemes, with its activity concentrated in London, the South East of England and, to a lesser extent, the North West. Its work combined private housebuilding with partnerships involving housing associations, local authorities, landowners and institutional or development partners. The business traces its origins to 1958, when Solomon “Bob” Bobroff established Countryside Properties. In the late 1960s, Countryside began working with Copthorn, a development business associated with chartered surveyor Alan Cherry. Countryside acquired Copthorn in 1972 and subsequently became associated closely with the Cherry family. The combined company floated on the London Stock Exchange in the same year. After an early downturn, Alan Cherry directed the company through a period of expansion into substantial development sites, including Chelmer Village and Chatham Maritime. The company’s approach placed emphasis on masterplanning, architectural quality, landscaping and the creation of communities rather than solely on individual housing units. Countryside returned to private ownership in 2005 through a buyout by Copthorn Holdings, jointly owned by the Cherry family and Bank of Scotland. The financial crisis then placed considerable pressure on the business. Following a refinancing in 2009, Lloyds Banking Group took control. Oaktree Capital Management acquired a majority interest in 2013 and supplied additional capital. In 2014, Countryside acquired luxury-home developer Millgate, and the group subsequently adopted the shorter Countryside name and the slogan “Places People Love.” The company returned to the public markets through an initial public offering in February 2016. During the following years it operated through two broad activities: new homes and communities, focused on private and mixed-tenure development, and partnerships, focused on large housing and regeneration programmes delivered with public-sector and housing-sector partners. In January 2022, the corporate name changed from Countryside Properties to Countryside Partnerships, reflecting the strategic importance of its partnership activity. The company experienced leadership and strategic pressure in 2021 and 2022. Chief executive Ian McPherson was removed in January 2022 after weaker trading, including a sharp fall in operating profit and lower revenue in the first three months of the financial year. Shareholder Browning West advocated separating the company’s businesses, while Inclusive Capital Partners made an unsuccessful takeover approach. In September 2022, Vistry Group agreed a cash-and-shares acquisition proposal valued at approximately £1.24 billion at announcement. The transaction was approved by the High Court in November 2022 and completed on 11 November, with the Countryside brand retained within Vistry’s enlarged housebuilding operations. The acquisition ended Countryside’s independent stock-market status. Notable developments associated with the business include Great Notley Garden Village in Essex, Great Kneighton near Cambridge, Wickhurst Green in West Sussex, Beaulieu near Chelmsford, Greenwich Millennium Village and the regeneration of Loughborough Park in Brixton. The company also received recognition for design quality, most notably through Accordia in Cambridge, which became the first housing scheme to win the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2008. Its activities have also attracted criticism and regulatory attention, particularly over leasehold ground-rent clauses and the remediation of unsafe cladding at NV Buildings in Salford Quays.
History
The business that became Countryside Partnerships began in 1958, when Solomon “Bob” Bobroff founded Countryside Properties in the United Kingdom. Alan Cherry, a chartered surveyor and former estate-agent partner, was involved in the related development company Copthorn. Countryside and Copthorn began working together in the late 1960s, and Countryside acquired Copthorn in 1972. The enlarged business floated on the London Stock Exchange that year. The flotation coincided with a difficult economic period. Bobroff resigned in 1974, after which Alan Cherry became the central figure in the company’s expansion. He promoted design and marketing as important differentiators and pursued large development sites. Projects such as Chelmer Village and Chatham Maritime reflected an approach based on planned communities and substantial masterplanned developments rather than isolated housing schemes. In 2005, the Cherry family sought to take Countryside private. The transaction was completed through Copthorn Holdings, jointly owned by the Cherry family and Bank of Scotland. The company subsequently recorded strong results before the financial crisis caused a sharp deterioration in the housing market. A loss in the year to September 2008 was followed by a refinancing in 2009 under which Lloyds Banking Group took control. Oaktree Capital Management acquired a majority stake in 2013 and provided additional capital, while the Cherry family retained a minority interest. In 2014, the business acquired luxury-home developer Millgate and planned to expand its scale. The group then adopted the Countryside name and the “Places People Love” slogan. Ian Sutcliffe joined as executive chairman in 2014 and became group chief executive in 2015. In that year, David Howell became chairman, Graham Cherry was assigned responsibility for new homes and communities, and Richard Cherry led partnerships. Countryside returned to the London Stock Exchange through an IPO in February 2016. The listed company operated across private housebuilding, mixed-tenure communities and partnership-led regeneration. Its projects often involved housing associations, local authorities and other development partners, and included both new homes and supporting facilities such as schools, healthcare, transport, public spaces and sports infrastructure. Ian Sutcliffe announced his departure as chief executive in 2019, with Ian McPherson taking over at the beginning of 2020. McPherson left in January 2022 after disappointing trading. The company then faced shareholder debate about whether its business activities should be separated. In the same month, the company changed its name from Countryside Properties to Countryside Partnerships. In May 2022, Inclusive Capital Partners made a takeover approach, while Browning West pushed the board to consider offers and had previously argued that the partnership business could benefit from separation. Countryside later agreed to a proposed acquisition by Vistry Group. The transaction, announced in September 2022, combined cash and Vistry shares and was supported by the boards and major Countryside shareholders. The High Court approved the scheme in November, and completion followed on 11 November 2022. Countryside therefore ceased to be an independent listed company, while Vistry indicated that the Countryside brand would be retained. The company’s history includes several prominent place-making projects. Great Notley Garden Village in Essex was developed over approximately a decade from 1993 and included nearly 2,000 homes alongside schools, community facilities, retail, healthcare and open space. Great Kneighton near Cambridge was planned as a large mixed-tenure community with homes, education, recreation, health, shopping and strategic open space. Beaulieu near Chelmsford was planned as a major urban extension with housing, commercial uses and a proposed railway station. Greenwich Millennium Village, developed through a joint venture with Taylor Wimpey after a government-initiated competition, transformed part of a former gasworks site into a major sustainable community. Countryside also became associated with design awards. Accordia in Cambridge won the RIBA Stirling Prize for architecture in 2008, the first housing scheme to receive that distinction. At the same time, the company faced criticism over leasehold ground rents and building-cladding remediation. Reports in 2017 focused on doubling ground-rent provisions, while concerns after the Grenfell Tower fire led to investigations of cladding at NV Buildings in Salford Quays. These issues contributed to wider public and governmental scrutiny of leasehold practices, building safety and responsibility for remediation costs.
- 2022
The company adopts the Countryside Partnerships name
[1]The corporate name changes from Countryside Properties to Countryside Partnerships.
- 2022
Vistry completes its acquisition
[1]Following court approval, Vistry Group completes its acquisition of Countryside Partnerships on 11 November.
- 2019
Ian Sutcliffe announces departure
[1]Ian Sutcliffe announces that he will step down as chief executive, with Ian McPherson designated as successor.
- 2016
Second flotation
[1]Countryside returns to the London Stock Exchange through an initial public offering.
- 2014
Millgate is acquired
[1]Countryside acquires luxury-home developer Millgate and subsequently adopts the Countryside identity and “Places People Love” positioning.
- 2013
Oaktree acquires a majority stake
[1]Oaktree Capital Management purchases a majority interest and provides additional capital.
- 2009
Lloyds takes control after refinancing
[1]A refinancing arrangement during the financial crisis results in Lloyds Banking Group taking control of the company.
- 2005
The company returns to private ownership
[1]Countryside is bought by Copthorn Holdings, jointly owned by the Cherry family and Bank of Scotland.
- 1993
Great Notley Garden Village begins
[1]Development begins on a major planned extension to Braintree in Essex.
- 1972
Countryside acquires Copthorn and floats
[1]Countryside acquires the related Copthorn development business and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Products and positioning
A design-led UK housebuilder and regeneration partner focused on large, mixed-tenure communities, partnership housing and place-making.
Residential development
Private-sale housing
Countryside developed houses and apartments for private sale across its regional operations. These homes were commonly delivered within larger masterplanned developments that included landscaped areas, public spaces, local services and community infrastructure. The company’s stated design approach emphasised the relationship between homes, streets, green space and the wider character of a settlement.
Affordable and mixed-tenure housing
Partnership housing
The partnerships activity delivered affordable, social and mixed-tenure homes with housing associations, local authorities and other institutional or development partners. It formed a central part of the company’s identity by January 2022 and was used for major regeneration schemes and urban extensions where private, affordable and community uses were planned together.
Regeneration and placemaking
Urban regeneration
Countryside worked on the redevelopment of large brownfield and estate sites, often replacing or supplementing existing housing with new homes, community facilities, public realm and supporting infrastructure. Greenwich Millennium Village and the Loughborough Park Estate regeneration illustrate the company’s involvement in complex, long-term regeneration programmes.
Masterplanned communities
Garden villages and urban extensions
The company’s large-scale development work included planned extensions and garden-village-style communities. These schemes integrated housing with schools, healthcare, retail, recreation, transport proposals, open space and village or town-centre facilities. Great Notley, Great Kneighton, Wickhurst Green and Beaulieu are examples of this offering.
Controversies
2018
NV Buildings cladding and fire-safety concerns
After the Grenfell Tower fire, investigations raised concerns about external cladding at NV Buildings in Salford Quays, developed by Countryside and built by Carillion. A later engineering review identified expanded polystyrene and possible gaps in fire breaks. In 2019, leaseholders were billed for a reported £2.6 million replacement programme.
2017
Leasehold doubling ground rents
Countryside was criticised over leasehold properties carrying ground-rent clauses that doubled at ten-year intervals. Such provisions were reported as problematic for mortgage lending. The company indicated that it would seek to buy back some freeholds and amend certain affected leases by linking increases to the Retail Prices Index.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Places People Love
United Kingdom
Following the Millgate acquisition and broader repositioning, the company adopted the Countryside name and the “Places People Love” slogan. The platform presented the business as a design-conscious place-maker rather than only a volume housebuilder.
Outcome. The slogan became associated with Countryside’s corporate and development positioning during its later independent period.
Brand decisions
2022
Rename to Countryside PartnershipsStrategyBackground
The partnership activity had become a central part of Countryside’s business and was the focus of shareholder debate about the company’s future structure.
Action taken
The company changed its name from Countryside Properties to Countryside Partnerships.
Aftermath
The revised identity preceded the company’s acquisition by Vistry later that year.
2022
Acceptance of Vistry’s acquisition proposalM&ABackground
Countryside faced takeover interest and pressure from shareholders to consider strategic alternatives.
Action taken
Countryside agreed to a cash-and-shares acquisition by Vistry Group, subject to shareholder and court approval.
Aftermath
The High Court approved the transaction on 10 November and completion took place the following day. Countryside ceased to be independently listed, while Vistry stated that the brand would be retained.
Announced transaction value. Approximately £1.24 billion (September 2022 announcement)
2016
Return to public marketsStrategyBackground
After several years under private ownership and majority control by Oaktree Capital Management, Countryside sought access to public equity markets.
Action taken
The company completed an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in February.
Aftermath
Countryside operated as a listed company until its acquisition by Vistry in 2022.
2014
Acquisition of MillgateM&ABackground
Countryside sought to increase its scale and broaden its offering in the residential market.
Action taken
It acquired luxury-home developer Millgate and integrated the business with Countryside.
Aftermath
The transaction was followed by a broader Countryside rebrand and a stated ambition to expand the group.
Recent events
- 2022
Countryside changes its name to Countryside Partnerships[1]
Other
The company adopted Countryside Partnerships as its corporate name, highlighting its partnership-led housing and regeneration activities.
- 2022
Chief executive Ian McPherson leaves after weak trading[1]
Leadership change
Ian McPherson was removed as chief executive after disappointing trading figures showed lower revenue and a substantial decline in operating profit.
- 2022
Inclusive Capital Partners makes takeover approach[1]
M&A
Inclusive Capital Partners made an approach for Countryside, initially rejected by the board amid pressure from shareholder Browning West to consider strategic alternatives.
- 2022
Vistry agrees to acquire Countryside Partnerships[1]
M&A
Vistry Group announced a cash-and-shares transaction for Countryside. The deal received shareholder and court approval and completed in November 2022.
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