Housebuilder secures eight new sites totalling 1000 plots

Within just eight months of launching, housebuilder Honey has announced it has secured eight sites located in Yorkshire and Derbyshire that will deliver 1,000 plots and revenues of £300m.

The Sheffield-based builder is also in advanced negotiations on a further seven sites which it expects to exchange contracts on by the end of this year. Subject to planning, these will deliver a further 930 plots in total with a gross development value of £260m.

In addition, Honey has revealed the appointment of former Vistry Group head of land, Luke Herring, as land and planning director to drive its site acquisition programme.

Honey was founded by former Avant Homes chief executive officer, Mark Mitchell, in October last year. The company is backed by private equity firm Alchemy Partners and its Alchemy Special Opportunities Fund IV which has £937m of fully committed capital.

The housebuilder is awaiting a decision on its plans for a £23.5m, 95-new home development on Barnburgh Lane, Barnsley, called Iris.

The five other secured sites are located across Yorkshire and the Midlands. Honey is currently in advanced negotiations on seven other sites ranging from Nottingham to Leeds. The housebuilder currently employs 20 people with a further 15 due to join before the end of September.

Mark said: “We have significantly exceeded the expectations we set in our business plan and have developed a great deal of momentum in our first eight months of trading.

“Hiring Luke is a very important appointment for us as it will enable us to maintain this momentum. He is an excellent operator with the capability, drive and ambition to deliver our growth plans to quickly become an established housebuilding brand within the north of England and the Midlands.”

Honey has analysed consumer insights and trends to inform its 23 housetype designs to ensure they meet the needs and wants of today’s new home buyers, including the flexible use of all living spaces.

Standard features in every Honey home include bi fold doors; individually designed fully integrated kitchens; and boutique style bathrooms with a signature free standing bath and full height tiling. All properties will have an electric vehicle charging point.

In addition, the house types will accommodate the Future Homes Standard which requires all new homes being built from 2025 onwards to produce 75-80 per cent less carbon emissions.