House by Urban Splash appoints chair
The joint venture between Japanese housebuilder Sekisui House, Homes England and Urban Splash, has appointed Claire Kober as chair and Mark Shirburne-Davies as director.
Kober, who is managing director of homes at Pinnacle Group, will take on the role of non-executive director and chair, as House by Urban Splash seeks to increase its output of modular homes.
Previously, Kober served in various senior posts across local and national government, including as chair of London Councils, and council leader for the London Borough of Haringey.
Kober said: “I have a huge interest in housing and there is a significant synergy between the work being done by House and my own passion for addressing the UK’s housing crisis. I am impressed by the company’s pioneering attitude and innovative approach, and hope to lend my experience and insight as the organisation moves forwards.”
Simon Dudley, interim chair of Homes England, added: “In Claire, House now has a highly experienced political and business operator at the helm and we look forward to seeing the organisation’s next steps to make homes happen.”
Mark Shirburne-Davies has also joined House as director overseeing the delivery of 400 homes in Northstow, Cambridgeshire.
Shirburne-Davies was previously construction director at Argent Related and chief operating officer at developer Pegasus Life. Prior to this, he spent three years in the UAE as executive vice president at airport business Abu Dhabi Airports Company.
The £90m House by Urban Splash partnership, which involves Japan’s biggest housebuilder Sekisui House, launched last May. The modular homes are all created in the House factory in the East Midlands and are on sale at sites in Manchester and Birmingham. Units are also due to be delivered to sites in Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire, the Lake District, Wirral and Walsall in the coming months.
Urban Splash group chairman Tom Bloxham said: “Claire is a strong advocate for change and championing new ideas, something which will help us develop and make our homes accessible to more people, while Mark’s international expertise will help us deliver an impressive new town for Cambridgeshire.”
Mark Shirburne-Davies has also come on board at House as a director
