Homebuilders Berkeley Group announce ‘Rob the Builder’ as new govt chair to steer 10-year technique

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra British homebuilder Berkeley Group Holdings has reported end-of-year pre-tax income of £528m and introduced that their new govt chairman can be Rob Perrins, the veteran CEO recognized within the trade as “Rob the Builder”, who succeeds Michael Dobson to change into govt chairman.

As Dobson steps down in September, Perrins, who has caught the eye of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner in her mission to construct 1.5m homes, will steer the corporate by way of a brand new strategic part.

An announcement from Berkeley thanked the outgoing chair, as Perrins prepares to speed up funding by way of a brand new “firm 10-year technique”.

Reporting their end-of-year financials on Friday, the group highlighted greater than 4,000 properties being delivered - 92 per cent of which had been on brownfield land sometimes beforehand used for industrial or industrial functions.

The group reported a complete of £251.8m paid out in dividends to shareholders, who additionally benefited from an extra £129.7m in share buybacks, at a mean worth of £39.05 every.

CEO Perrins praised the group’s efficiency amid a difficult setting.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/02/07/13/c6513257ede6a990493f0301b6aa9a19Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzA3Mzk2ODg0-2.73808502.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/02/07/13/c6513257ede6a990493f0301b6aa9a19Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzA3Mzk2ODg0-2.73808502.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/02/07/13/c6513257ede6a990493f0301b6aa9a19Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzA3Mzk2ODg0-2.73808502.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="The government is aiming to build 1.5m new homes in England by the end of this parliament" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

The federal government is aiming to construct 1.5m new properties in England by the tip of this parliament (PA Wire) “Berkeley has delivered £528.9m of pre-tax revenue for the 12 months, with web money at £337.3m, despite ongoing geopolitical and macroeconomic volatility. With over 75 per cent of gross sales secured for the approaching 12 months, we're well-placed to attain our FY26 pre-tax revenue steering of £450m.

“This represents a wonderful operational efficiency with extremely disciplined execution and shut management of prices. We've got added long-term worth to the enterprise, each in our land holdings and thru our Construct to Hire platform.”

Alongside final 12 months’s monetary efficiency, the group revealed a brand new 10-year technique which can incorporate a £7bn free money movement to deploy throughout the following decade, together with a minimal of £2bn to return to buyers.

Mr Perrins added that the group is targeted on serving to clearing regulatory hurdles in the case of the federal government’s plan for 1.5m inexpensive homes to be constructed earlier than the tip of parliament.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/06/20/7/11/PA-28105972.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/06/20/7/11/PA-28105972.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/06/20/7/11/PA-28105972.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Mr Perrins (right) and Tony Pidgley, the late founder and chairman of Berkeley Group Holdings" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Mr Perrins (proper) and Tony Pidgley, the late founder and chairman of Berkeley Group Holdings (PA) “Berkeley is absolutely dedicated to the federal government’s housing-led development agenda, and we're submitting planning functions on all our websites to speed up supply,” he stated. “We welcome the federal government’s efforts to unblock housing provide and advocate targeted motion to speed up completion of Part 106 agreements, enhance funding for the Inexpensive Housing sector and guarantee Planning Authorities have the sources and pro-active mindset to facilitate housing supply.

“We had been subsequently delighted to see the rise in Inexpensive Housing funding and the 10-year social housing hire settlement introduced in final week’s Spending Evaluate, which represents optimistic progress in the direction of reaching their housing ambitions.”

Mr Perrins has been Berkeley’s CEO since 2009. Together with his promotion, present CFO Richard Stearn will, in flip, change into CEO.

“Appointing Rob as govt chair will present assurance to key stakeholders, together with our individuals and the leaders in Nationwide and Native Authorities, of the continuity in management wanted at the moment,” learn an organization assertion. “It resolves succession in a means that retains the Berkeley tradition and values, the significance of which is recognised by shareholders and different stakeholders alike.”