Heron Homes was one of the south of England’s biggest builders before Ronson sold the business in 1994.

But Heron is now planning to start residential work next year through its land subsidiary which owns 8,000 plots.

Ronson said:  “To give customers value for money, you need to have acquired the land at the right price – and we have put together an excellent land bank at the right price.

“There is strong demand for homes in the south of England and if you can build the right product in the right location, you will do well.”

Homes will be pitched in the £120,000 – £400,000 bracket with a site at Emersons Green in Bristol among the first expected to start on site.

Heron has made a number of previous attempts to return to housebuilding including unsuccessful approaches for Alfred McAlpine’s housing arm in 2000 and for Crest Nicholson five years later.