Decades of insight, experience and achievement

Follow our journey to see how Highwood has helped to make the Central South a better place to live and always with an approach that leaves a lasting positive legacy on our communities and environment.

2004 HIGHWOOD FOUNDED 

Highwood is formed by founding directors, Nigel Meek, Nigel Shannon and Malcolm Mintram to develop and construct residential schemes across the Central South Coast.

2004 The first partnership deal is agreed

Highwood agrees its inaugural partnership deal with Hyde Housing Association to construct a collection of new affordable homes, Angela Court, in Sea Road, Havant in Hampshire.

2006 Highwood’s first open-market project is delivered

Highwood builds the company’s first open-market project: Lordsdale Court, a development of 26 apartments alongside 54 affordable homes (14 houses and 30 apartments) on a site close to Southampton General Hospital, meeting a need for local key workers.

2008 Highwood delivers its first care home

Highwood acquires the Hamilton House site in Portsmouth and builds Langstone Court close to the heart of the historic city. The flagship project comprises Highwood’s first care home, set within a gated community of 50 one and two-bedroom luxury retirement apartments with an affordable housing allocation.

2009 Highwood’s first urban regeneration project is completed

Highwood delivers The Deanery, a contemporary, high-density scheme of 140 apartments and 29 townhouses to Downland Housing Association and Testway Housing Group. The city’s high profile urban regeneration project was fraught with challenges, including major flood risk mitigation construction and a watching brief over the site’s archaeological interest. Despite this, the project was delivered ahead of schedule and remains one of our proudest achievements.

2011 Highwood HQ moves to Upper Ashfield Farm

With an increasing workforce and sustained organic growth, Highwood acquires Upper Ashfield Farm, a collection of historic farm buildings set on the outskirts of Romsey. Following a substantial refurbishment programme, the Highwood team makes The Barns its new headquarters.

2011 Highwood signs deal with global investment group

As the Highwood name becomes synonymous with excellence in care home development, a deal is signed with a global investment group to launch their new care business. The deal would see care homes delivered in Frome (pictured), Weymouth, Fareham and Salisbury.

2012 Highwood’s iconic strategic land promotion gets underway

Highwood’s award-winning North Stoneham community scheme gets underway having identified and assembled several parcels of land totalling 120 acres. The former historic deer park deal remains one of the South Coast’s most ambitious multi-use development projects.

2013 Highwood’s landmark Horndean site is secured

Highwood secures a 25-acre site in Horndean, Hampshire with an ambitious plan to create 700 new homes, a care village, community facilities, including school, shops, allotments, playing fields and woodland spaces. One year later, an outline planning application is submitted with a detailed application approved in 2015.

2013 Highwood delivers its first joint venture scheme

Highwood delivers the first of five joint venture care home projects under an exclusive package deal with leading care operator, Cinnamon Care Capital. Hartwood House in Lyndhurst (pictured) is the first project delivered. Care home projects delivered under the deal also included Netley and Fair Oak. 

2017 Highwood commences delivery of the award-winning North Stoneham Park project

Highwood embarks on the journey to transform the masterplan for the landmark community scheme into its future multi-award-winning reality. The project would comprise the delivery of over 1100 new homes, a local centre, primary school, nursery and a retirement community and capture the attention of property awards judges in the years that followed.

2018 Award-winning recognition for Highwood

Highwood named in London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain. North Stoneham Park is crowned Development of the Year (Residential – Large) and wins the Fast Rising Property Business of the Year Award at South Coast Property Awards. Highwood is also ranked 74th in the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100.

2019 Highwood named Housebuilder of the Year

Highwood wins Housebuilder of the Year at South Coast Property Awards and ranks 34th in the Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100. Highwood also earns a shortlisting in the Homes– Post Construction Stage for North Stoneham Park at the BREEAM Awards.

2021 Highwood ahead on nitrate neutrality

The BBC covers Highwood’s push to improve water quality and biodiversity while offsetting nitrates discharging into the Solent coastline. Highwood funds the exemplar nitrate mitigation solution at Whitewool Stream on The River Meon.

2021 A Best Company to work for

Highwood is named ‘One of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the South East’ by Best Companies.

2021 Highwood launches Community Fund initiative

Highwood launches its celebrated Community Fund initiative to donate £5,000 from every project delivered to a local community scheme. 

2022 Another multi-award-winning year

Highwood’s Old Mansion Site project crowned Residential Development of the Year at the South Coast Property Awards. North Stoneham Park wins at the Solent Quality Place Awards and Highwood is again named ‘One of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the South East’ by Best Companies.

2022 Highwood delivers its 30th care home

Highwood reaches a remarkable milestone with the delivery of its 30th care home. The team completes on Shawford Springs, a prestigious 64-bed care home for leading care partner, Barchester Healthcare. 

2023 Partnership with Octopus Real Estate and Hartford Care agreed 

Highwood enters into a partnership agreement with Octopus Real Estate and Hartford Care to deliver two best-in-class care home schemes in Alton and West End in Hampshire.

2023 Highwood delivers its 1500th new home

A three-bedroom Georgian style semi-detached home on the award-winning Old Mansion Collective development becomes Highwood’s 1500th new home.

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