Barratt Homes announces Wilson Bowden integration plans

Barratt Homes has announced how it will integrate with Wilson Bowden following its £2.2bn acquisition of the housebuilder.

The combined businesses will amalgamate, focussing on two national brands – Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes - for its house-building activities. The KingsOak brand is being dropped, but the Kent-based Ward Homes brand will remain.

Closures of nine divisional offices are in consultation, with Barratt planning to operate 35 house-building divisions comprising 22 Barratt, 10 David Wilson, two dual-branded divisions and one Ward Homes division.

All the Group's housebuilding divisions will report to six regional managing directors who will in turn report to the executive directors in the North and South.

Head office operations at Ibstock, Leicestershire and in Newcastle will either be reduced or relocated. The restructuring is expected to affect 400 jobs, though the company has pledged to minimise redundancies through natural staff turnover and redeployment.

Barratt chief executive Mark Clare said: “These early actions are designed to integrate the businesses as soon as possible, delivering cost reductions, a strong management team and improved operational performance. At the same time they create the right foundation for us to exploit our improved land position, stronger brands, better geographical spread and strength across the product range.

”It is always regrettable to have to announce redundancies but we have acted swiftly to remove the uncertainty employees have inevitably faced. We will do everything we can to ensure that we integrate the businesses as quickly and as smoothly as possible.”

Barratt’s acquisition of Wilson Bowden was announced in February. The deal makes Barratt the UK’s largest housebuilder with about 19,800 annual completions, though it will be relegated to second position if the proposed merger of Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey is completed.