Jeff Fairburn
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Chairman
Wetherby, GB
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Jeff Fairburn is a highly accomplished British businessman with more than three decades of UK housebuilding experience. He currently serves as Chairman of Avant Homes, a leading regional housebuilder with developments across the Midlands, North of England and Scotland.
Jeff grew up in York and left school at 17 to train as a quantity surveyor under a Youth Training Scheme while studying part time for a Higher National Certificate (HNC) at York Technical College.
Jeff joined Persimmon Plc, then an emerging regional UK housebuilder, in 1989. He played a key role in Persimmon’s M&A activity and business integration which transformed the Group into a national housebuilder. Jeff was appointed its CEO in April 2013 and under his strategic vision and leadership between 2013-2018, the FTSE100 housebuilder delivered industry leading performance including total shareholder returns exceeding 190%. Through his expertise and drive, the business increased annual completions from c.10,000 units to over 16,000 units, doubled operating margins from mid-teens to c.30% and trebled return on capital employed, a key value driver, from 14% to 54%. When Jeff left Persimmon in 2018, the Group’s share price was trading at a significant premium to its peers.
In 2020, Jeff’s investment in a 50% stake in Berkeley DeVeer, a Yorkshire-based housebuilder, provided a platform to acquire Avant Homes backed by Elliott Advisors a year later. Since then, Jeff’s has used his vast experience establishing a sustainable, multi-tenure business model fit to address the current challenges of UK housebuilding. He was instrumental in activating early membership of the New Homes Quality Code which promotes consumer protections as well as quality. Avant operates from eight regional offices, builds c.2,000 homes a year and employs more than 600 people.
The Record
Background
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2021 — Present
Chairman
Avant Homes
Avant is a leading regional housebuilder with locations across the Midlands, North of England and Scotland.
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1989 — 2013
Various roles
Persimmon PLC
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2013 — 2018
CEO
Persimmon PLC
Persimmon PLC is a constituent of the FTSE 100 and a major housebuilder, building more than 13,500 new homes a year in more than 350 locations across the UK.
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2020 — 2021
Chief Executive
Berkeley DeVeer
Berkeley DeVeer is a Yorkshire-based UK housebuilder, known for constructing high-quality homes with an emphasis on innovative design and sustainability, and catering to a diverse range of homebuyers and communities.
In The News
Newsfeed
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2 June 2026 · Property Week
Avant Homes to deliver Scottish social housing scheme in £10.6m deal
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11 May 2026 · Project Scotland
Final phase of £220m Glasgow housing development taking shape
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13 April 2026 · Estates Gazette
Avant pushes forward with next phases of Durham homes
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26 March 2026 · Property Week
Avant Homes greenlit for £67m Barnsley development
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18 August 2025 · The Business Desk
Avant Homes agrees £16.7m housebuilding deal with NCHA
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7 August 2025 · Insider Media
Avant Homes acquires Sutton-in-Ashfield site and gains approval for £22.8m scheme
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1 August 2025 · Yorkshire Evening Post
Avant Homes announces £44m development in Carlton, near Rothwell is 75 per cent sold
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28 February 2025 · Construction Enquirer
Avant Homes gets green light for £68m Scottish site
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23 September 2024
Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and Avant Homes come together
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7 August 2024 · The Business Desk
Housebuilder gets green light for £29m development
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21 June 2024 · Insider Media
Avant Homes gets the go-ahead for £41.9m development
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10 June 2024 · Housing Today
Avant Homes' west Yorkshire business beefs up leadership team with two new appointments
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28 May 2024 · Inside Housing
House builder starts work on £137m 600-home development
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Areas Of Focus