Becoming Denbury Homes chief executive represents a return to the Hopkins family business for Lee Barnard; he worked with executive chairman James Hopkins for 23 years, eventually leading the Hopkins Group prior to the sale of Hopkins Homes in 2022.
Denbury Homes is a Suffolk based housebuilder with developments across East Anglia. Formerly called Hopkins & Moore, the company was established in 1985 by James Hopkins. Following the sale of Hopkins Homes to Guy Hands, James Hopkins retained ownership of Hopkins & Moore and renamed the company Denbury Homes. In February this year he promoted his son Joshua to managing director.
As chief executive, Lee Barnard will oversee day-to-day operations while Joshua Hopkins will focus on land acquisitions.
Barnard said: “The progress Denbury Homes has made in the three years since the separation from Hopkins Homes has been impressive.â€
Backed by a آ£55m funding package from HSBC, it has ambitions to be building 450 homes a year by 2029. Denbury Homes fully launched its flagship development St Edmunds Gate, Bury St Edmunds, in January 2025.
Barnard added: “St Edmunds Gate is a testament to our ambition; it will deliver in the region of 900 homes and contribute آ£15.5m to the community through S106 payments.
“We now have two show homes open which embody the build quality and attention to detail which the entire team at Denbury Homes prides themselves on. The level of interest and the reservations we have secured so far demonstrate that our homes are appealing to both local buyers and those from further afield.â€آ
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