Davidsons Homes > Builders & Placemakers

Builders &
Placemakers

Past, Present, Future

Davidsons Homes
is a family owned
& managed company.

Davidsons Homes – it’s a family story. 

We have been building quality homes for three generations.

Our Head Office is based in Ibstock, Leicestershire where over sixty years ago my grandfather, Albert Henry Wilson started a small joinery business.

In 1961, my father joined my grandfather and together they built the foundations of what was to become David Wilson Homes.

David Wilson Homes would go on to become a nationally renowned housebuilding company. The Wilson family sold their shares in David Wilson Homes in 2007 to Barratt Developments who still trade as David Wilson Homes.

 

This is when our family’s next venture began, with the launch of Davidsons Homes in 2007. From a handful of developments then, to the breadth of sites and thousands of homes we have since built, our commitment to being a family-owned business with family values remains. In fact, David Wilson CBE is still very much part of Davidsons Homes as our Chairman.

Whilst we’ve grown to be much bigger than the joinery business, we’re proud that we still have our very own joinery shop at Ibstock too.

Our skilled craftspeople still make the traditional timber porch brackets and decorative door surrounds you’ll see on every Davidsons Homes development. It’s this commitment to quality and detail that makes the Davidsons Difference.

In 2019, we opened Davidsons Homes South Midlands, and we now build fantastic new homes throughout both the East & South Midlands. We welcome you to take a look through our development timeline to see where your development sits within our history.

James Wilson
Group Managing Director

1960

Albert Henry Wilson

Our story begins at Albert Wilson’s joinery shop in Ibstock, Leicestershire. Albert has established a strong reputation for the quality of his work which includes small extensions and new homes. David joins his father’s business.

1970

A.H. Wilson and Son (Contractors) Limited

By the 1970s, A.H. Wilson and Son are growing rapidly, constructing libraries, council offices, new homes and even petrol stations. ‘Wilson Garage’ opens and looks after the growing fleet of vehicles that keep the business moving. A.H. Wilson and Son are soon building 150 homes every year across the Leicestershire area.

1987

A leading house builder

During the early 1980’s the company begins to focus more on house building.  A.H. Wilson and Son changed its name to David Wilson Homes and quickly becomes one of the most well-known and respected house building companies in the country. Over the 1980s, the number of new homes we build every year soars. At the start of the 80’s we are building 300 new homes a year. By 1989, we’re building 1,600 new homes a year.

Expansion and growth

By the late 1980’s David Wilson Homes becomes a public limited company and our expansion continues. As well as house building, the company undertakes commercial property development. Major developments included Meridian Business Park (200 acres), retail parks on previously developed land (also known as brownfield land) and city centre regeneration projects.

1990

Building homes nationwide

During the 1990s and early 2000s David Wilson Homes continues to grow. As we entered the 21st century, the company was building 4,000 new homes a year.

1995

David Wilson Foundation

David Wilson establishes his Charitable Foundation. The Foundation is set up to help young people achieve their potential in life and to advance the health of the community.

2000

Leading in design

We complete the David Wilson Millennium House at the University of Nottingham. Constructed using conventional brick and block methods, this prototype home was created to support cutting edge research in renewable energies. Today, the Millennium House is used as offices for research staff at the university.

2007

Davidsons Homes is founded

The Wilson family launch Davidsons Homes. Work begins building the very first Davidsons home! We lay our first brick at Kirby Grange in early 2008. Later that year, we break ground at Melbourne, Wymeswold and Rauceby. 

2008

HM The Queen opens the David Wilson Library

In December 2008, HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh officially open the David Wilson Library at the University of Leicester. Just six months later, the University’s Vice Chancellor invites David Wilson back to the library to celebrate the library’s one millionth visitor!

2013

500th Home

We’re growing quickly and celebrating another milestone! Our 500th new home is built at Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire.

“Davidsons were head and shoulders above everyone else”

Tony and Louise Marriott Owners of ‘Davidsons’ 500’

2014

Awards for design quality

We’re delighted that our Melbourne development is presented with the Melbourne Civic Society Award for 2014. The judges say, “time and thought has gone into producing designs and details that reflect Melbourne. This gives a sense of continuity with the rest of the village”.

Back where it all began

We break ground at Ibstock and we’re as pleased as punch to be building homes in the Leicestershire village where our story began!

2015

Celebrating our 1000th home

We commission a specially made brick featuring the Davidsons rose insignia and the number ‘1000’ on this very special home.

2017

Ten years young and we’re helping to build a new town

Work begins at New Lubbesthorpe, Leicestershire’s newest town. Davidsons breaks ground and gets to work on building the first of 4,250 new homes that will benefit from new parks, schools, health facilities and shops.

2018

Eight new apprentices join Davidsons Homes

“We believe in investing in the future of housebuilding. It is vital in ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the industry. We are thrilled to welcome our new apprentices onboard and look forward to seeing them develop their skills.”
Jason Glover, Operations Director 

 

We also secure ProCon’s ‘Large Residential Developer of the Year Award’ for our Anstey development.

We start preparations for our expansion into the South Midlands. Our land buyers carefully research towns and villages identifying the best locations for our homes and quickly spot ideal locations at Hanslope and Irthlingborough!

2019

Opening of South Midlands

We opened our first regional office in January 2019. Based in Blisworth, Northamptonshire, the opening of our South Midlands office allowed us to expand our operation and build more award-winning homes in the South of the country.

2019

Recognised for our quality and experience

David Wilson CBE is presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award* for his contribution to housing and construction.

Our new homes at Houlton, Rugby begin to take shape and feature in the government’s ‘National Design Guide’. We secure a further ProCon Award for our Husbands Bosworth development.

Our South Midlands office opens with James Burnham as Managing Director and we’re soon getting to work on building our first homes at Hanslope.
*Leicestershire Business Awards

2020

Proud to support our NHS

We start the year with a fundraising event and in partnership with the David Wilson Foundation raise £60,000 for the Cardiology Unit at Leicester’s Glenfield Hospital.

 

We also respond to the NHS ‘Plea for PPE’ and donate personal protective equipment to Royal Derby Hospital to support front line staff in the battle against Covid-19.

2021

Matt Hampson

We pride ourselves on supporting local charities and ‘getting involved’ in local projects so were thrilled to be asked by The Matt Hampson Foundation to deliver two overnight accommodation units for guests to use at the Foundation’s ‘Get Busy Living’ Centre.

2022

5000th Home

In September 2022 we opened our showhome at Lower Bardon which was also the 5000th home built by the company.

2022

This Years Apprentices

Davidsons are proud of our apprentice programme, where we nurture young people and provide them with the opportunity to explore all aspects of the construction industry and find a passion to pursue as a career. Our latest intake was in August 2022 and we look forward to welcoming more young people in the future.

2022

10 Year 5* Builder

We were awarded our 10th consecutive 5* Builder award by the HBF in March 2022.  The coveted award was presented to James and Robert Wilson by the Managing Director of the HBF (House Builders Federation) Neil Jefferson at our annual Charity Awards Evening in June 2022.

2022

Building Heroes Launch

We feel very strongly about supporting our veterans and military personnel, and were excited to team up with the Building for Heroes Scheme in September 2022 which offers a pathway into construction for Armed Forces Veterans.

2023

James Wilson topping out the last house to be built at Ashby

James Wilson, accompanied by bricklayer Jean Bigos, tops out the last house to be built on the Ashby de la Zouch development. Jean also laid one of the first bricks on the commencement of the development in 2016.

Builders & Placemakers Past, Present, Future

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