Holker looks to accelerate housebuilding in South Cumbria

Allen Gibb has been appointed chief executive of the newly formed Holker Homes company, part of the wide-ranging Holker Group that also owns Cartmel Racecourse, Holker Hall, and Burlington Stone.

This marks a new role for Gibb at Holker, having previously been the group chief executive. Turning his focus from the wider operations to zero in on housebuilding shows the potential the group sees in the residential sector.

“I’m delighted to be taking on this role at a time when the need for high-quality new homes in South Cumbria has never been clearer,” Gibb said.

“Investment at BAE Systems’ Barrow shipyard is expected to create up to 7,500 jobs over the next 15 years, well beyond existing Local Plan assumptions. That growth will require a significant increase in housing delivery,” he continued.

“We will work closely with Team Barrow and local stakeholders to deliver high-quality homes, with a mix of tenures and house types to reflect the full range of roles being created across the workforce.”

Lucy Cavendish, principal of Holker Group, described the creation of Holker Homes as “the single largest investment initiative” in Holker’s 250-year history.

Regarding Gibb, she said: “His experience, ambition, and deep understanding of the region make him ideally placed to drive this forward.”

While the Holker Homes company may be new, the brand is not. Holker Group has been building homes under the Holker Homes name for several years now and is currently on site with delivery partner Lancet Homes on projects in Grange-over-Sands and Kirkby-in-Furness. The group is also holding a consultation for a 370-home project on 45 acres of greenfield off Rakesmoor Lane in Barrow.

Meet the movers and shakers of the Cumbrian property world. Book your ticket to Place North West’s Cumbria Development Update.