Taylor Wimpey makes first customer experience director appointment
Taylor Wimpey has appointed Maria Sebastian as the housebuilder’s first group customer experience director. Sebastian joins as part of Taylor Wimpey’s group management team, leading the sales, marketing and customer service functions. The company said she would be “instrumental in ensuring the continued delivery of a cohesive journey for all Taylor Wimpey customers”.
Vistry chooses new ceo
Vistry Group has chosen Adam Daniels as its new chief executive officer. Daniels, who becomes the partnership housebuilder’s ceo as well as executive director with immediate effect, was previously the executive chair of one of Vistry’s two largest operating divisions and a member of the group's executive leadership team. Joining Countryside Partnerships in 2016, Daniels helped establish new regions and grow the business, taking on his first senior leadership role in 2019.
Housebuilder Awards 2026 – enter now
Entries are open until May 1 for the Housebuilder Awards 2026, the industry's own awards, supported by the Home Builders Federation and NHBC. Winning a Housebuilder Award can boost your business, brand and team, as 2025’s Housebuilders of the Year Bellway and Spitfire Homes explain: “Being named Large Housebuilder of the Year at the Housebuilder Awards recognises the commitment, professionalism and teamwork of colleagues right across the Bellway business,” says Matt Grayson, Bellway’s customer experience and sales director.
PfP and Barratt Redrow join forces on 8,500-home garden town
Places for People (PfP) and Barratt Redrow have unveiled a joint venture (JV) to build a 8,500-home community in East Hertfordshire. The joint venture will create interconnecting villages on the outskirts of Gilston which will be set within 660 hectares of public open space, restored historic parkland, meadows and woodland.
Richborough agrees debt facility with National Housing Bank
Homes England has agreed a multi-million-pound debt facility with land promoter Richborough, in an investment marking one of the first commitments made through the National Housing Bank, launched last week. The flexible facility will help Richborough accelerate its planning application activity, growing the supply of consented land for SMEs, housing associations and major housebuilders, Homes England said.
Govt announces Growth and Housing Accelerator Fund
The government has announced a Growth and Housing Accelerator Fund to deliver the road infrastructure needed to unblock housing and “key growth developments” across England. The £165 million fund will, according to the government, target sites on or near to motorways and A-roads where funding constraints have stalled housing, delivering critical transport works to accelerate housing and employment sites.
Industry veteran launches partnerships housebuilder
Phoenix Sustainable Investments has launched a new partnership-led housebuilder, Ardena Homes. Phoenix Sustainable Investments, led by industry veteran Karl Hick, has brought together its land, planning and delivery capabilities to create Ardena Homes, based near Bourne in Lincolnshire, which will work in partnership with housing associations, local authorities and sector stakeholders “to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes across the East of England”.
HBF report highlights BNG legislation concerns
Housebuilders have warned that issues with biodiversity net gain rules are slowing home delivery, with 84% continuing to find the legislation challenging two years after its introduction, according to the Home Builders Federation. HBF’s new report, based on a survey of HBF members undertaken in early 2026, highlights the difficulties surrounding BNG legislation. HBF said the rules, dictating that sites achieve a 10% improvement in BNG, were “having a clear and growing impact on development viability and housing delivery, particularly on smaller sites”.
