Japan’s biggest house builder moves into UK market

Grant Prior 6 years ago
Share

Japan’s biggest house builder has struck a £90m deal with Homes England and Urban Splash to deliver thousands of new properties across England.

A Sekisui House development in China
A Sekisui House development in China

Sekisui House are pioneers of modern methods of construction and will bring their techniques to the UK.

The deal includes new investment of £55m into regeneration company Urban Splash’s modular ‘House’ development business.

Sekisui House has invested £22m of new equity, with £30m of equity and debt funding coming from the Government’s Home Building Fund, administered through Homes England.

Entrepreneur Noel McKee, founder of We Buy Any Car, has also made a sizeable investment in the new partnership and will take an incremental 5% stake.

Yoshihiro Nakai, President and Representative Director of Sekisui House Ltd said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to work together with Homes England and Urban Splash to establish our operations and help to create outstanding communities in the UK.

“Using modern methods of construction to build high quality homes with short build times is one of our company’s great strengths.

“Our technology and know-how can help resolve pressing social issues in the UK, and I want to see us play our part effective immediately.

“These operations can also help bring vitality to UK regions, and we will work to make the strongest connections with the local communities.”

‘House’ is expected to deliver thousands of homes across England using modern methods of construction.

Minister of State for Housing, Kit Malthouse MP, said: “Sekisui House bring with them a proven track record in harnessing the modern methods of construction that are transforming home building.

“Backed by Government investment, today’s announcement will support our urgent mission to deliver more, better and faster home construction to ensure a new generation can realise the dream of home ownership.”

Sir Edward Lister, Chair of Homes England, said: “When Homes England launched last year we said we’d disrupt the housing market to increase the pace of construction.

“By helping bring one of the world’s largest and most innovative housebuilders to UK shores, we’re putting our money where our mouth is.

“By creating a more diverse landscape – where smaller builders such as Urban Splash get a stronger foothold – we’re rebuilding the building industry; driving up quality and improving consumer choice.”

Tom Bloxham, Chairman of Urban Splash, said: “We believe that there is a real opportunity in the UK housebuilding industry.

“We hope to leverage our 25 years of place-making experience and our recent investments into modular housing by bringing in new partners; having looked far and wide we chose Sekisui House from Japan because of the company’s unrivalled global experience in modular construction and shared values and philosophy that we are making homes not units, and a joint belief in the need for a green future.

“We are incredibly excited about the accelerated production of much-needed homes and evolving traditional practices as we embrace the benefits of innovative offsite construction.

“I hope it will establish us as the housing partner of choice for landowners – both public and private.”

Latest news

Ardmore Construction Ltd falls into administration

Move isolates fire safety claims, leaving main Ardmore group free to grow profitability
2 days ago

Aston Villa gets go-ahead for £100m North Stand expansion

Project to modernise 1897-built ground ahead of EURO 2028
2 days ago

Quartet wins £1.75bn Midlands Rail Hub upgrade deal

VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke, AtkinsRéalis and Siemens team up on Birmingham upgrade
3 days ago

McLaren confirmed for £250m Cardiff arena

Robertson Property secures planning green light for 16,500-capacity venue
3 days ago

John F Hunt starts work on £150m West End office revamp

Six month strip out deal at 125 Shaftesbury Avenue
2 days ago

Former Skanska vice president to join Galliford Try

Thomas Faulkner to head up specialist services division
2 days ago

Bowmer + Kirkland snaps up office fit-out firm Denton

Acquisition gives £40m turnover interiors specialist firepower to chase bigger jobs
3 days ago

Contractors sought for £667m Welsh Water mega project

Utility tests appetite for design, build and finance for twin water treatment jobs
3 days ago

Worker killed on Mace London site

Fatal accident on major site in Brent
3 days ago

Willmott Dixon veteran takes construction COO role

Former trainee Stewart Brundell promoted after nearly 40 years at the firm
3 days ago

BSR delays dent margins at OHOB despite record sales

Turnover up 18% to £369m as pre-tax profit nudges £22m
3 days ago

Plans go in for 30-storey Preston tower

£40m scheme will be tallest residential building in Lancashire
3 days ago

Former Laing O’Rourke leader to join Skanska

James Davies to oversee key defence and health projects
3 days ago

Green light for £10bn data hub prep works in Northumberland

Enabling works to roll out over 16 months on former Blyth Power Station site
4 days ago

VolkerWessels UK profits jump as rail and marine work surges

Infrastructure contractor posts £48m pre-tax profit and stronger order book
4 days ago

Groundworks boss wins payout over gagging order

Subcontractor raised fears over asbestos on housing sites
4 days ago

B+K to start £50m rebuild of Northumberland school

Cramlington Learning Village redevelopment contract signed off
4 days ago

New Homes Accelerator targets six new major sites

Construction to be sped-up on another 12,000 homes
4 days ago

Network Rail spend down as CP7 shift bites contractors

Firms warn of inflation squeeze and reprofiled workbanks
5 days ago

Wall of six towers planned for North London strip site

Hendon Goods Yard site plan for line of resi blocks rising to 29 storeys
5 days ago

SCF opens door to single stage tenders for first time

Gen-6 Southern Construction Framework to widen scope for smaller jobs
5 days ago

M&J Evans lifts profits as eastward regional push pays off

Groundworks specialist sharpens tender strike rate and grows pipeline to £504m
5 days ago

CHIC confirms 33 winners on £1bn housing framework

Equans, Guildmore, Seddon and Wates land spots on new four-year deal
5 days ago

Trade body joins attack on CITB over funding changes

Fit out specialists describe move as a "kick in the teeth"
5 days ago

Carey demolition cartel claim settled with developer

Legal action withdrawn after both sides agree settlement
1 week ago

Strabag seals financial close for £3bn HARP project

Work to start next year on North West's Haweswater aqueduct upgrade
1 week ago

Civils winners revealed for £12bn National Grid high voltage work

Contractor wins complete £59bn investment programme
1 week ago

Watch giant HS2 bridge move complete ahead of schedule

Video highlights engineering feat in Birmingham
1 week ago

Lee Marley posts record revenue despite project delays

Brickwork contractor weathers hiatus in high-rise starts to deliver fifth year of growth
1 week ago

Latest contract winners in military living revamp

First phase sites allocated under new approach to Single Living Accommodation
1 week ago