Following their success at the WhatHouse? Awards 2025, Rory Wilkinson, digital editor of Show House, spoke to Sean Ellis, managing director of Fernham Homes, to find out more about the winner of Gold for Best Small Housebuilder.
Tell us about your role and Fernham Homes
Fernham Homes, established in 1999, is a regional housebuilder renowned for delivering premium homes across Kent and East Sussex. Our headquarters are located in Brook House, a stunning Grade II listed building in the historic market town of West Malling, right in the heart of the county. I was appointed managing director following my acquisition of a 25% stake in Fernham Homes in November 2022.
What are Fernham Homes’ values and how does that shape the work it does?
Our vision is to be the housebuilder of choice in Kent for all our stakeholders, from landowners to local authorities, staff, suppliers, contractors, consultants and of course our customers. We are driven by our four core values – investing in people, standing by our promises, delivering every home with pride and doing the right thing – our vision and values are reflected in everything we do.
Congratulations on your success at the WhatHouse? Awards. What does winning Best Small Housebuilder mean to you and the business?
It is fantastic to receive the recognition that this award brings to Fernham Homes, our team and all the stakeholders who have played their part in winning this prestigious award and my thanks goes out to them all.
It was amazing how much this means to our team, who have all worked incredibly hard to reach this level. It was fantastic to hear their reaction when they found out they had won – I thought they were going to lift the roof off The Ballroom!
In your opinion, what is it that set Fernham Homes apart to win the Gold?
We take pride in delivering exceptional homes and outstanding service across every market we operate in. From a three-bedroom home priced at £400,000 to a five-bedroom home at £1.6million, our properties are built to the highest standards and ready to move into, without the need for costly extras. Coupled with our commitment to excellence, we provide an unparalleled customer experience, reflected in our impressive Net Promoter Score of 88 last year.
How will the Awards win help support the company in its goals?
I believe this award will play a key role in realising our vision and strengthening brand awareness among our stakeholders. It will also help us attract and retain top talent while enhancing our reputation with customers.
What does the future have in store for Fernham Homes?
In the short term, we have another busy year ahead with nine new planning applications and five new sites starting in 2026, targeting over 200 completions in 2026/27.
Looking ahead, our long-term plan is to grow the business to maturity in Kent, delivering 400 homes per annum by 2030. Our challenge is maintaining the high standards we have set whilst scaling up.
We will also be back next year to enter the Best Medium Housebuilder!
To find out more about what made the WhatHouse? Awards winners stand out, read the full Judges’ Report here
