UK residential property developer; one of the sector’s giants
Barratt Redrow has announced investor returns plans, returning about £400 million via buybacks and £14 million via dividends, while signaling continued cost-cutting and supply chain management to offset higher build costs. The update follows investor pressure from Phoenix Asset Management Partners to pursue larger buybacks.
Barratt Redrow’s outgoing CEO says rising rates, higher student debt, and wage pressure have made it the toughest period for first-time buyers since the financial crisis. Zoopla data show fewer first-time buyers but higher prices in this cohort, including London crossing £500,000.
Britain’s biggest housebuilders are facing a multibillion-pound class-action lawsuit after accusations they colluded on pricing, harming more than 700,000 buyers of new-build homes between 2015 and 2026. The claim seeks up to £4.5bn in compensation, with per-home payments estimated at £3,100-£6,200. The Competition Appeal Tribunal must approve the case before it proceeds.