Crest Nicholson

Crest Nicholson is a leading property development company founded in 1963. The developer is headquartered in Chertsey, Surrey. Striving to create high-quality house developments and thriving, sustainable communities, the company takes a holistic approach to the design of its projects and pays careful attention to the locations it chooses

History of Crest Nicholson

The company was founded in 1963 by Bryan Skinner and was initially called Crest Homes. In 1968 it was listed on the London Stock Exchange. The home builder differed from most developers in that it did not own large plots of land. In 1969, Crest Homes bought En-Tout-Cas, which was building tennis courts. Then, in 1971, the developer acquired the Tony Pidgley earthmoving business. Pidgley teamed up with Jim Farrer, a board member and originally a real estate agent, after which they helped Crest Homes get their first land for new developments. They ran the company until 1975 and then left to found Berkeley Homes.

In 1972, a new holding company was founded with the aim of further diversification. It was called Crest Securities. In the same year, Crest bought Camper & Nicholsons, a yacht building company. Thus, the company was renamed Crest Nicholson. A string of other acquisitions followed, including Lamson Engineering (1975), eyewear makers Crofton (1979) and Greenwood Electronics (1983). In 1985, the developer bought CH Pearce.

After Bryan Skinner retired in 1983, the company's previous strategy was cancelled. The developer's housing division has begun acquiring long-term land. And all non-residential property developments were sold.

In 2007, Crest Nicholson went private. In 2013, it was re-listed on the London Stock Exchange. In 2018, it was reported that Crest Nicholson's chief executive had stepped down as the company reported a rise in earnings. Stephen Stone, who has been the head of the construction company for 12 years, became executive chairman and Patrick Bergin took his place. In September 2019, the company appointed Peter Truscott as its new CEO.      

Company's Aim and Mission

The housebuilder Crest Nicholson aims to improve the quality of life for both individuals and communities by delivering exceptional new build homes, workplaces as well as retail and leisure facilities. Furthermore, the developer puts customers above everything else, as evidenced by the fact that over 90% of Crest Nicholson customers have expressed their willingness to recommend the company to a friend.  

Conscious of the dire situation with climate change, Crest Nicholson has decided to take a proactive approach to negate the consequences of human impact on the environment. The company is focused on reducing carbon emissions and waste with the aid of ecologists. Moreover, the developer's approach includes nature and biodiversity protection while building Crest Nicholson new homes.

Developer's Charitable Activities

Crest Nicholson supports Variety, a charity that helps improve the lives of children and young people with disabilities or disadvantaged backgrounds. The developer has been working with the organization since 2005. Variety provides practical assistance, trainers, wheelchairs, and other necessary equipment and creates an unforgettable childhood experience through the Variety at Work program. Over the years, Crest Nicholson has helped sponsor cycling trips, galas, award-winning dinners and mountain hikes.

Crest Nicholson also collaborates with other organizations. For example, the Youth Adventure Trust uses outdoor adventure to empower young people to fulfil their potential and lead positive lives in the future. The developer works with this organization to build resilience, build confidence and acquire skills that will serve children a lifetime in helping them cope with the challenges of their lives.