Magnificent seven for Thakeham Client

Happy birthday!

Thakeham Client is celebrating its seventh birthday.

The arm of Thakeham that manages both contract and partnership build projects, handles a range of contracts that include social, affordable, retirement and private housing.

Approaching 1,000 units

The seven-year milestone arrives at a busy time for the client team. Over 800 units have been or are currently being constructed, and a further 400 are contracted to be built over the next two years.

Earlier this year we began building 37 new homes at Ockford Ridge in Godalming for Waverley Borough Council. This development forms a key aspect of the council’s regeneration strategy for this area. The range of 1,2,3 and 4-bed properties will be available for rent on completion later next year.

In Ticehurst, East Sussex, we are building a new £6.6 million development. When complete the scheme will provide 40, much needed affordable homes for Optivo Housing Association. The homes will be available for affordable rent and shared ownership. Completion will take place late in 2020.

All affordable projects

Recently we commenced with the build of 125 new homes in Portslade. This was the largest contract awarded in Thakeham Client’s history. The development for Clarion will take three years to complete and will deliver a scheme entirely for affordable housing. Thakeham secured the opportunity after a robust tendering process was undertaken by the vendor. On this project we oversaw the Reserve Matters planning application for Clarion.

In January 2020, we will begin building 51 affordable homes in the village of Smallfield in Surrey. The 18-month build development for Stonewater will provide 26 affordable homes for rent and 25 shared ownership homes.

For Thakeham Client, Business Development Director Steve Tuhey said:

Business milestones offer the perfect opportunity to take stock of all we have achieved together and look with anticipation to the future.

In seven years, we are proud to say that over 90% of our units across all sites are social and affordable houses. In fact, our development in Portslade for Clarion Housing was 100% affordable. Our high ratio of quality affordable housing exceeds minimum requirements and demonstrates our commitment to playing our part to ease the housing challenges the UK faces.

It’s a passion we are proud to share with our housing association and local authority partners. We hope that, in the seven years to come, our enviable range of in-house design, planning and engineering skills will continue to deliver industry-leading placemaking projects that UK homeowners deserve.

We’ve come a long way

Thakeham Client was formed in November 2012. The first contract in April 2013 was for a very small local developer that had no build capability.

Over the years we have expanded our land portfolio, grown the in-house team and built strong relationships to become one of most successful and respected housebuilders in the South East. In 2018, Thakeham Group was listed in The Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100.

Our developments are often characterised by a host of additional community benefits. At Ockford Ridge, for example, as well as working on refurbishment at St Marks and sponsoring the SMART breakfast club; Thakeham is also delivering a support programme with Green Oak Primary School. The programme will focus on health and safety, construction and ecology.

Steve Tuhey concludes:

Thakeham Group came from humble beginnings in 2003. And nine year’s later Thakeham Client was born following the same simple clear vision: to transform the way our partners and homeowners think about new build developments. It still drives us today.

Thank you to everyone who continues to partner with, and contribute to, the Thakeham success story.