Last updated May 6th 2021
Hill Holdings
Based in Waltham Abbey in Essex, Hill Holdings provides new homes for private buyers and for statutory and voluntary housing providers. The group ranks among the largest UK housebuilders and in 2020 completed some 1,960 homes. Founded by Andy Hill in 1999, the group is involved in private homes for sale, joint ventures and contracting.
Its main subsdiaries include Hill Residential – which focuses on private homes for sale across London and the South East and has £230 million land bank for 6,700 homes. Meanwhile, Hill Partnerships provides residential construction services to a wide range of local authorities and registered providers as well as to Hill Residential, mostly providing new housing. The group’s projects range from £1-65 million with around 50 projects on site at any one time, covering most types of housing.
The group has made various board appointments – including regional director Tom Hill – to facilitate its expansion in the South West and growth at its Investment Partnership division which works with local authorities to deliver large-scale regeneration and housing developments. Today, the group is working on opportunities which will deliver a further 9 400 homes over coming years.
The bulk of the company’s contracts are new-build residential projects on houses, flats, student, special needs and elderly accommodation but it also offers estate regeneration and major refurbishment projects. Its pipeline of work had grown in recent years and it is continuing to develop relationships with clients such as housing associations, local and education authorities and the MoD.
The group has 50% stakes in three investment partnerships: a jv with Cambridge City Council to deliver 1700 homes over an eight year period; a jv with Rushmoor BC to regenerate Aldershot and Farnborough town centres and a venture with South Cambs District Council. Hill has also been selected as a jv partner with Poplar HRVC for the regeneration of the Teviot Estate in east London which will involve 1 750 new homes and other facilities.
Hill’s hq is in Waltham Abbey- servicing London and the northern home counties – and it works through five regional offices in Cambs, Oxfordshire, Norfolk, Essex and West Sussex. It has also opened in the South West and a new office in Bristol is planned. The firm has also been investing it its digital platform and recently delivered its first modular homes for the homeless under its Foundation 200 pledge.
In April 2021, CEO Andy Hill said the group was: “…well-positioned to make the most of market conditions in years to come.” He added that it was on track to double turnover and profitability by 2025.
Financials
To view the financials for Hill Holdings Ltd visit Companies House and use Company ID 04202304
Covid inevitably took its toll on Hill Holdings’ reducing revenues by an estimated £60 million and profits by £12 million, according to the 2020 annual report. However in the year to end-December 2020, group turnover still rose to £606.3 million from £563.2 million and pre-tax profits advanced slightly to £44.32 million from £42.6 million. Meanwhile, the group also maintained a healthy balance sheet with cash at bank of £138.3 million, up from £84.2 million previously and no borrowings.
Developments
Hill’s key specialisms include green field housing developments, extra care homes, mixed tenure urban regeneration projects, redevelopment of local authority-owned land and high density inner city housing projects. The firm also delivers complementary facilities including education, health, community and commercial spaces as well as student accommodation, special needs housing and energy-efficient developments.
In April 2021, the group formed a partnership with housing provider Home Group to deliver the regeneration of the Douglas Bader Park estate in Colindale, north London; a 1970s estate where some 750 new homes will be built.
Meanwhile in spring 2021, Thomas White Oxford, the developer of St John’s College, chose Hill Group as its development partner for the first phase of new homes at Oxford North, a new life sciences district for the city. Thos. White has outline consent for a 64-acre masterplan for the scheme involving 480 new homes and significant investment in cycling, bus and highway networks.
Early in 2021, Hill and L&Q Estates launched a jv to promote a ‘garden city’ community east of Cambridge at Westley Green on over 1350 acres of strategic land beyond the green belt. The jv aims to deliver strategic infrastructure, employment uses and multiple phases of new homes.
Glenigan Data
Hill Partnerships was ranked 26th in a recent Glenigan Contractors league table; Hill Partnerships won 15 major contracts with a combined value of £385.6 million during the 12 months to September 2020.
Meanwhile, Glenigan data also shows that work is set to start later this summer on a £11.04 Hill Residential scheme of 143 homes and 12 flats at Hardwick, near Cambridge which is funded by a housing assocation and where work will continue for 18 months (Project ID: 16432363). Glenigan data also shows that work is due to start later this summer on a Hill Residential scheme of 56 flats at Hermitage Rd in Barnet in north London, where work will run for 13 months (Project ID: 18281322).
Conclusion: Strong track record in regeneraton
Thanks to its range of specialities, Hill Holdings is less exposed than many rivals to the mixed times currently facing most affordable housing providers. The company should continue to benefit from the upturn in private housing volumes and more government spending in the affordable sector. A good regional spread across the south and a strong track record in the regeneration sector should also mean that the group’s affordable housing business can take advantage of more generous funding for the sector. Meanwhile, continuing low interest rates should sustain the group’s private sales volumes.
How To Win Work with Hill Holdings
Hill emphasises its ‘can-do’ mentality and its philosophy is to drive forward change. It is a supporter for innovation and continuous improvement in products and processes and is keen on sustainable building methods and R & D.
Subcontractors interested in working Hill require a valid registration with Constructionline and valid Health & Safety accreditation under the Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) scheme. There is a section on the group’s website which provides a guide for subcontractors interested in working with Hill (see link here). Suppliers can contact the group at supplychain@hill.co.uk
Key contacts at Hill:
Luke Phillips, Head of Estimating
Tel: 020 8527 1400
Dean Miller, Project Manager
Tel: 020 8527 1400