William Leech plc
| Industry | Housebuilding |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1934 |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Beazer |
| Headquarters | Tyneside |
Key people | William Leech (Chairman and founder) |
William Leech plc was a major Tyneside housebuilder.
History
[edit]The company was established by William Leech, a former window cleaner in 1934[1] as William Leech (Builders) Ltd.[2] It bought very large landholdings in the Cramlington area[3] and was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1976 when its name was changed to William Leech plc.[2] It achieved an output of 2,500 units in 1979.[4] It announced a merger with Bellway in 1981 but this was called off within days: "the lifestyle of the two firms looked pretty incompatible".[5]
The company was then acquired by Beazer in 1985.[2] The company retained its brand and Newcastle head office until Beazer itself was acquired by Persimmon in 2001, following which both brands were phased out.[6] The Leech Homes name was revived by Persimmon in 2005 as a brand aimed at housing for the over-55s.[7] As of 2025, it remains registered with Companies House as a dormant company, still in the ownership of Persimmon plc. [8]
References
[edit]- ^ "William Leech - Builder". BBC. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^ a b c "The William Leech Foundation Limited - The Foundation Trust". Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^ Cullingworth, p. 240
- ^ Ball, p. 60
- ^ Building, June 1981
- ^ "Persimmon's profits take off after Beazer takeover". The Northern Echo. 2001-08-29. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ Chronicle, Evening (2005-09-30). "William Leech brand to target over-55s". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ "LEECH HOMES LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
Sources
[edit]- Ball, Michael (1983). Housing Policy and Economic Power: The Political Economy of Owner Occupation. Routledge. ISBN 978-0416352801.
- Cullingworth, Barry (1970). British Planning: 50 Years of Urban and Regional Policy. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0485006049.
