NHBC Awards

Lofty achievement for Cliff

Achieving his fourth NHBC Quality Award is Barratt Homes South Wales Site Manager, Cliff Thomas, for his outstanding work on the company’s College Green development in Rhydyfelin in Pontypridd.

Cliff, who won quality awards in 2000, 2001 and 2009 – the latter on Barratt’s Pennar Heights development, said: “I always treat every home on the site as if it’s my own and meets the standard that I would expect. I keep a close eye on detail and like to get it right first time, adopting a hands on approach to management, constantly trying to raise standards and get the best out of the site team using encouragement, discipline and sometimes innovative ideas and working to a firm but fair policy.”

Praising the efforts of his team, he said: “This is the best team I have ever had, and include some really exceptional tradesman. He added that one of the ways he has of encouraging good work is to post photographs of good examples of work carried out by his team in his office for all to see.”

In addition, to his NHBC accolade Cliff has also been voted Site Manager of the Year by his company.

Having started out straight from school as a 17 year old apprentice carpenter, and subsequently becoming a foreman, Cliff then joined Barratt Homes as an assistant Site Manager and was promoted to Site Manager within 11 months. He then left to work for two other companies and later to run his own business before returning to Barratt four years ago.

The College Green development is constructed on the former site of a Welsh school and includes 160 homes. Construction commenced in November 2009 and 60 homes are occupied so far. Sales are steady and three more plots remain to be completed by September.

College Green offers an excellent range of two and three bedroom terraced and semi detached homes that are ideal for young professionals, families or retired people wanting to escape from city to village life at an affordable price. With its close proximity to the A470 it has excellent transport links to Cardiff, Merthyr and the M4.

Gateway to the famous South Wales Valleys, Pontypridd itself has lots to offer with its indoor market, many pubs and cafes/eateries, all serving traditional Welsh fare with traditional Welsh hospitality.

College Green also combines the best of rural and out of town living. Pontypridd holds the key to Wales’ historic and cultural past. The town is famous for its breathtaking architecture. The old buildings are decorated with fine stonework sourced from locally quarried stone.

Barratt Homes is not just a housing developer; they are a company that builds homes. At every stage of the process; from designing and planning to the final finishing touches, Barratt keeps in mind the emotional and practical priorities of the people who will be living in their properties.

The Eden Park site is due for completion at the beginning of next year.

Barratt Homes is officially the highest quality major national housebuilder – indeed it has been awarded an exclusive ‘5 Star Housebuilder Award*’ by the Homebuilders Federation.

“The award is the result of recommendations from customers as well as our superior build quality, so Barrat is especially proud to be the only major national housebuilder to be awarded this accreditation – two years straight.

“The award is extra assurance that buyers can expect the best quality build when they choose a Barratt home.”

The first Barratt company was established in 1958 in Newcastle upon Tyne and then grew steadily, establishing the roots that were to support its future growth.

The company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1968 and in 1972 a programme of rapid expansion was launched through a series of acquisitions and the creation of new companies.

During the 1990s the group grew organically, establishing an unrivalled track record of consistent growth. In April 2007 Barratt acquired Wilson Bowden PLC and today has a network of 25 housebuilding divisions throughout Britain, selling new homes under the Barratt, David Wilson and Ward Homes brands.

About the author

Roma Publications