Brick By Brick appoints directors to oversee wind-down

Croydon Council has appointed two directors to the board of its ailing housing company, Brick By Brick, to oversee the wind down of the business.

The council has named former Vinci director Andrew Percival (pictured, left) to be executive chair of the business as the firm’s chief executive Colm Lacey leaves the business this week.

Former Berkeley Group and Bellway Homes exec Griff Marshalsay has been appointed non-executive director.

The appointments come after the council decided last year to wind the housebuilding business down after it was implicated in the financial crisis which forced the council to declare itself bankrupt in 2020.

The decision came despite the fact regeneration developer Urban Splash had offered to buy out the business, with the offer assessed as value for money. After refusing Urban Splash’s offer, the council initially lined up contractor Wates to oversee the wind down of the business, but Wates ultimately did not take on the job and the council has not found another firm to complete the existing developments.

Brick By Brick said the new board members will work with the council to close out the company’s developments, with all construction work expected to be completed by 2023. The council, which set up Brick By Brick in 2016, decided last year to cease funding further schemes, leaving winding up the business or selling it as the only viable options.

Andrew Percival is taking the exec chair role following a successful naval career, and time as a director at UPP Group Holdings, Vinci and Taylor Woodrow. He was also chair of Stevenage First and a board member of the Hertfordshire LEP, and is currently Independent Chair of the Hemel Place Board.

Griff Marshalsay (pictured, right) comes to the group after time working at Catalyst Housing, Antler Homes, the Berkeley Group and Bellway Homes. He is currently chair of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s property company.

Both Griff and Andrew will start immediately, with Lacey due to step down at the end of this week. Lacey, who oversaw the initial growth of Brick By Brick, announced his decision to step down from the firm last summer.