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Paul Nicholls, a well-known figure in the house building sector has just launched his own company - Real. The firm already has some tasty contracts after Nicholls pulled in major investors and bought companies to hit the ground running.

Nicholls acts as Chief Executive Officer. He told TheInstaller.pro and The Fabricator.pro : "We are a new construction and regeneration business that delivers housing-led, new build projects with local authorities, housing associations, senior living specialists and private clients in London, the South-East and South-West."

Real is formed with the transfer of a number of construction and regeneration projects including those from shamed cladding firm the Rydon Group.

Nicholls continued: "Residential-led construction and regeneration is what makes me tick. I will work with our clients and other partners on finding solutions to the development challenges they face from affordable housing to retirement living. My aim is to develop long-term partnerships to build high-quality homes and create communities where people enjoy living.

"We bring a wide range of development expertise to the table, including affordable and social rent, shared ownership, education and commercial developments. Our aim is to work in partnership with local authorities, housing associations, retirement living and other housing providers to build new communities that create opportunities for residents in places they can afford to rent or buy."

 

Covid

Nicholls went on: "The construction industry has unfortunately not been without its challenges in recent times. However, the sector has clearly fared better than many industries through the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to some strong government support. This has been complemented by the industry’s appetite and ability to safely keep sites open and active across the supply chain.

 

Joined-up delivery

The Construction Playbook, the latest government publication to encourage collaboration, brings back memories of both the Latham and Egan reports from previous decades in promoting a joined-up approach to delivery as the only real way to deliver and deliver well. Likewise it does now seem that off-site manufacturing and modern methods of construction have finally arrived in earnest, following the Modernise or Die report by Mark Farmer in 2016. Combine these initiatives with the UK commitment to zero-carbon developments and a greener future and there is definitely an exciting few years ahead for the industry, where we all have to evolve in response to the climate emergency."

 

Inclusivity

Nicholls knows that there are things that need to change in construction. He said: "In addition – and in common with many of our peers – we acknowledge that we are still grappling to be truly inclusive and that we must do more to encourage the very best talent to join us. One of my first tasks is to strengthen a skilled, experienced team with more talented people and we will develop an inclusive culture that feels and is open to all.

"This is our offer to clients and other partners: we care about what we build and how we build it."

 

Real Wins Place On £250 million SEC Affordable Housing Framework

Within two days of its launch on 6 April, Real, had won a place on the South East Consortium (SEC) framework to build affordable homes over the next three years.

The SEC – which is owned by its 41 housing association and local authority members – expects the framework to be used by its members to build new homes and other projects worth around £250 million in total. At present SEC members manage more than 400,000 homes.

Real, will help housing providers with projects worth between £5m-£20m across London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey and also the rest of the UK.

Nicholls said: “It is great to be recognised by a prestigious framework that supports so many housing associations and local authorities in building new communities. This is the best start to our new business we could have hoped for.”

 

Siddington Park Takes Shape

Real is already working on a project at Siddington Park, Cirencester to deliver over 60 luxury retirement apartments.

The company is due to handover the first phase of nine apartments to Rangeford in May 2021, making the project one of the first Real will complete.

 

Heritage build

As part of the scheme a large central wellbeing facility will house a restaurant, swimming pool, gym and cinema. Constructed with local Cotswold stone walls and tiled roofs to blend in with the local architectural vernacular this is a traditionally built development.

Picture: Paul Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer, of Real and his Siddington Park heritage construction project.

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
22nd April 2021

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