A Suffolk-based housebuilder and a company based in Solihull have been brought under one roof.

The two housebuilder brands - Hopkins Homes and Tilia Homes - will form one company with two brands with the launch of untypical.

Untypical is owned by the Hands Family Office - founded by Guy Hands - and is managed by European private equity investment firm Terra Firma.

Tilia Homes was purchased by Terra Firma in May 2021. Hopkins Homes - based at Melton, near Woodbridge, and founded in 1993 by James Hopkins - was snapped up by the company eight months later in  January 2022. 

untypical - which is working towards building more than 2,000 homes a year - said it aims to make" a positive difference" to the UK housebuilding market and help to provide greater access to homes which are affordable for buyers.

In the longer term, it has set its sights on becoming a leading UK housebuilder.

Tilia Homes and Hopkins Homes will continue as the customer-facing brands - with untypical dual branding appropriate sites featuring a range of homes from entry-level to premium properties across the four English regions of the Midlands, the West, the East and East Anglia.

Untypical wants to build homes which are sustainable and better for the planet, while also driving value for customers, it says.

Hopkins Homes has already become the first UK housebuilder to offer customers a 10-year Zero Bills guarantee in partnership with Octopus Energy at a new estate at Bramford, near Ipswich.

untypical is pushing ahead with an ongoing pilot to explore a range of low-embodied carbon house archetypes designed to significantly surpass current building regulations. These have been submitted for planning permission in Tilia Homes’ Landimore Park development in Northampton.

Guy Hands - owner of untypical and founder of Terra Firma - said: “As an investor in the UK housing market since 1996, it is clear the traditional industry model is unable to meet the wants and needs of the modern homebuyer.

Guy Hands (Image: www.JohndeGaris.com) "By building homes based on robust customer insight, we see an opportunity to do things better and bring about positive change.

"The launch of untypical is just the starting point on our journey, but we believe that it has the potential to be transformative – not just for our business but for the whole housebuilding industry.”

Chris Severson, Chairman of untypical, added: “By combining the strengths of the Hopkins Homes and Tilia Homes brands, we will design and build the homes that people really want and are also good for the planet.

Chris Severson (Image: Piranha Photography)

"untypical’s growth will be underpinned by deep technical expertise, a strong, supportive shareholder and driven by a team of industry leaders.

"With a focus on affordability, sustainable materials and long-term community building, our untypical approach will aim to not just meet expectations, but push boundaries and redefine industry standards.”

Church View, Bramford (Image: Untypical)