Residential Builders
Hampshire

Current News

New government and emergency budget provides stability

Even with all the international and domestic turmoil still surrounding us, the recent election and subsequent emergency budget has, at least, provided a certain amount of longed-for stability.

During a turbulent 2009 and, despite many clients hesitating or postponing projects, our enquiry levels remained high; and with the various cost savings we introduced at the recessions height, we have maintained a steady and profitable workload.

Enquiries are still buoyant but, as clients didn't appear to be wooed too much by last years VAT cut, we don't anticipate a mad rush by clients to beat January’s VAT increase to 20%.

There is still a huge demand for 'the perfect country house' and the South East of England remains the most desired location.  It is also encouraging that homeowners in this region tend to own at least 60% of the equity in their homes, and are thus not so affected by the lack of availability of mortgage finance.  In addition, house prices have proved relatively resilient with falls of less than 10% since the 2007 peak common. 

With our two specialist building companies covering the majority of the South East and West London, we hope to remain busy for a considerable time to come.

(7th July 2010)

Hampshire's Junior Wimbledon

The only thing better than the weather on Tuesday 22nd June was the children’s Yogi Bear Shield Tennis Tournament.  Six out of 14 local infant schools qualified and took their teams to Manydown Tennis Centre in Wootton St. Lawrence for the annual finals day of the tournament sponsored by R.W. Armstrong & Sons.

Each team consisted of four children aged six to eight years on the Mini Tennis red courts. Group A consisted of Cheam, Home Farm and Priory with Daneshill, Sherfield and North Waltham in Group B.   The teams played their way through the first stage with all the young players showing great ability, skill and technique. After the first round, coming out on top in their Groups was Daneshill and Home Farm, beating last year's winners Cheam.

The final, played in front of over 100 spectators, was understandably a tense affair but that did not stop the children from performing at a very high level. Played over four rounds, Home Farm took the lead in the third round bringing the overall score to 17 -12 in favour of the Home Farm team of Ella Mitchell, Ned Hine, Samuel Ward and Jemima Attwood.

Home Farm team member, Ella Mitchell, said:  “It was the best day of my life, and I’ll never forget it!”.

The finals day is the culmination of six months tennis training and matches. Now in its sixth year the tennis programme ensures that each year over 1500 children in local junior schools get the best coaching and match play experience.

The afternoon ended with a players dinner and presentation in front of all the parents and supporters. Several players won individual awards and the Home Farm team picked up the coveted Yogi Bear Shield.  All the players received gifts and the younger children watching were given tennis key rings.

Bryan Farrelly, coaching director at Manydown Tennis said:  “The afternoon was a complete success due to the Manydown team, the sponsors R.W. Armstrong & Sons, the players and parents, not to mention the beautiful setting on a remarkable day.”

(25th June 2010)

At the Coal Face

R.W. Armstrong & Sons was proud to feature within the May issue of the prestigious House & Garden magazine in an article on select craftsmen and how their traditional skills are flourishing.

Behind any significant building or refurbishment project is an army of dedicated craftsmen. In this article House & Garden interviewed our site manager, bricklayer and plasterer about their painstaking restoration of a listed 17th Century cottage.  Click to read the full article.

(May 2010)

Marathon Man

Joiner, Kevin Fraser, successfully took part in the Virgin London Marathon in April.  He finished in a very respectable time of 3hrs 50 mins and 41 seconds, looking a lot less grey and exhausted than the last time he did it!

In doing so Kevin raised over his target amount of £1,500 for the charity WellChild, the national charity for sick children which provides practical help for children and their families as they deal with serious illness and complex conditions.   

It was a tremendous achievement for Kevin, who is also on course for a marathon time spent with R.W. Armstrong & Sons having been with the company for over 20 years.   

(April 2010)

Times remain competitive

At the risk of sounding repetitive we still find ourselves in very competitive times.  Hence, we continue to look at ways of cutting costs and improving efficiency without damaging our well earned reputation for providing a high quality service.

Our years of sustained marketing and expansion have widened our net and resulted in R.W. Armstrong & Sons being approached for the vast majority of substantial refurbishment projects in our area. Consequently, our enquiry levels remain high.

The problem we have been struggling with, since 2008, is that clients continue to demand the highest quality for the lowest price.  This conflicts hugely with our business model and, as our competitors become more desperate and drive prices even lower, we have no alternative but to continue to cut our running costs.

However, we are pleased to say that the last six months has seen a number of successful projects completed with very satisfied clients moving in.  Credit once again must go to all the teams on these sites, particularly those who fought through the very snowy conditions this winter to get on-site.

(2nd March 2010)

Ice Warrior postponed

Simon Lewis returned from training in Svalbard without injury and still enthusiastic for polar expedition despite the very disappointing news that the expedition to the Arctic Pole has been postponed until 2011.  This is because the Arctic ice formation has not been good with slow ice formation, excessive ice rotation and abnormal winter freeze conditions.

The same conditions affected the climate during his Svalbard training which led to unusually mild temperatures.  In light of this the team will undertake additional cold weather training in Canada (Iqaluit) to ascertain their ability to cope with -30, or colder.  Visit www.ice-warrior.com for an update. 

Simon would like to thank all our commercial and private clients who have sponsored and supported him to date, namely:  Microgen, Guncast, South Coast Building Supplies, Guncast, Handles 4 Doors, Basingstoke Skip Hire, All Brick and Stone, Finch Commercial, Thames Valley Hire Services, W J Pollard, Lowe and Oliver, Armstrong Haulage.

(17th February 2010)

New brochure for Chiverton

Since partnering with Armstrong’s, some 12 months ago, our subsidiary, E.A. Chiverton Ltd, has firmly linked with our established resources and undergone a rebranding.  It is now, more than ever, a professional, modern construction company, with enquiries steadily increasing from the new contacts we have introduced and the widening of their operational area.

If you would like their new brochure please contact info@eachiverton.co.uk or telephone 01243 865771.  The new brochure showcases many projects, ranging from various refurbishments at Goodwood Estates to the building of a new primary school and a country estate.

(16th February 2010)

Apprentices recruited

Despite the recession, R.W. Armstrong & Sons has taken on the regular number of apprentices in carpentry, bricklaying and painting & decorating.  This is in line with our policy to pass on the generations of skills within the company, which has proved invaluable in maintaining our reputation for high quality craftsmanship. 

Our existing apprentices again achieved their qualifications this summer with flying colours.  Three gained an NVQ 3 in Carpentry and one in Painting & Decorating, and site manager Paul Corneby completed his HNC Construction & Interior Skills qualification.  In the office, director Stuart Pearson attained a Distinction in the NEBOSH Certificate in Construction Health & Safety and contracts manager Ben Walpole completed his BSc (Hons) Construction Management.

(15th October 2009)

The alternative Ashes

R.W. Armstrong & Sons was victorious in their own version of The Ashes this summer, winning four cricket matches out of five against various architects, sub-contractors and suppliers.

The series started with two easy victories against Witcher Crawford Architects.  In the first match against Ian Adam-Smith (Fine Town and Country House Commissions) they batted first and scored 168 runs.  However, thanks to spectacular batting from Adrian Green, Neil Rayner and newcomer Paul Southon (from E.A. Chiverton), Armstrong’s managed to score 169, giving us our very first victory against them.  Unfortunately both the matches against Robert Adam Architects were cancelled as they were unable to get enough players, and rain stopped play against sub-contractor Steve Fenton. 

Against Finch Insurance Brokers, we batted first and scored 101 runs, but despite brilliant bowling from Armstrong’s we met our first defeat by a mere 3 runs.  In our second match against Ian Adam-Smith we again beat them, by just 8 runs.

Do you have a cricket team prepared to take on R.W. Armstrong & Sons next summer?

(15th September 2009)

Chichester building company become first subsidiary

R.W. Armstrong & Sons recently took-up the opportunity of acquiring E.A. Chiverton Ltd, a very similar, albeit smaller building company based near Chichester.

Operating in the East Hampshire and Sussex area, Chiverton’s is a family company of 65 years standing, carrying out traditional contracting works with such prestigious clients as The Goodwood Estate, The Weald & Downland Museum, Lord Cowdray and Quinlan Terry Architects, as well as commercial projects for the education sector, health service and local community. 

The acquisition will provide a valuable diversification for Armstrong’s as the landscape of the economy changes, although the company will remain dedicated to maintaining their excellent reputation for specialising in the renovation, extension, and new build, of traditional period and country homes. 
 
The existing owners of E.A Chiverton Ltd, Debbie Chiverton and Mike Wigmore, approached Armstrong’s in light of the changing market conditions and the wish for Debbie to retire.   E.A. Chiverton Ltd will continue to operate in its own name and from its offices in North Bersted, West Sussex, and Mike Wigmore will continue in a consultancy role. 

Debbie Chiverton, retiring owner of E.A. Chiverton Ltd, said:  “We sought Armstrong’s out as having similar attributes and synergies but with the added professionalism and larger structure that could not only continue the good name of E.A. Chiverton but develop the company into a modern, successful organisation.”

"It was a move that the directors of both companies engineered", said Nigel Armstrong, chairman of R.W. Armstrong & Sons.  “We are very excited to have secured such a highly regarded building company as E.A. Chiverton Ltd as our first subsidiary.  It will enable a larger geographical area to be covered by our company, whilst still retaining the personal contact and high quality service that our clients have quite rightly come to expect, and enjoy.”

(June 2009)

Creating out-buildings of distinction and impressive gardens

R.W. Armstrong & Sons has more than 50 years experience helping the custodians of England's country houses improve their properties.  Work ranges from major projects such as building new country houses from scratch and complete refurbishments of listed homes, to smaller jobs such as creating intimate structures and landscapes in the garden.

Read more in the articles that featured in Country Life in May and June 2009.

Buildings of distinction

Creating the ideal kitchen garden

(4th June 2009)

Building Inspiration on a Grand Scale

To read the article that featured in the Listed Property Owners Club 'Listed Heritage' Magazine on the rebuild of the significant North Wing and the extensive renovations to a large mid to late Victorian era Grade II* listed country home, undertaken by R.W. Armstrong & Sons over several years, click here. 

For more photographs visit the case study on our website at Refurbishment/Listed House.

(1st June 2009)

R.W. Armstrong & Sons shortlisted for Contractor of the Year Award

R.W. Armstrong & Sons was shortlisted for the prestigious 2009 Contractor of the Year Award. 

Armstrong's was one of just seven companies (with turnover up to £500m) to have been chosen in Building magazine's construction national industry awards rewarding best practice, innovation and excellence.  The company was particularly recognised for its commitment to recruiting and retaining high quality craftsmen.  

2008 saw a number of significant long-term projects completed including an extensive extension and renovations to a listed home , and the refurbishment and several extensions to an Edwardian home . 

The company has also focused more on sustainability with many projects requiring green energy solutions etc, and segregated waste policies being used on-site to maximise recycling opportunities. 

In addition, there has been at least five year's of sustained growth, expansion into new geographical areas and a new management structure has been put in place with successful integration of non-family executives.  In light of the current economic climate various measures have also been taken to improve efficiency.

Chairman Nigel Armstrong, said: "I am delighted that the dedication and extensive skills of our staff have been recognised once again with this national Award."   

(2nd April 2009)

Read more about our projects and tips on renovating your home

As an 'Expert' in traditional building R.W. Armstrong & Sons is often approached by various consumer and trade publications to give advice on renovating period homes for their readers.

Here are a few articles which you may find of interest, simply click on the links below to view the articles in pdf format. Keep visiting this website for more articles in the future.

"Fixing it" featured in Period Ideas December 2008 issue.  R.W. Armstrong's chairman Nigel Armstrong reveals what you can do to enure you manage your project effectively.
Fixing it

"Lessons learned" featured in Period Ideas July 2008 issue.  Chairman Nigel Armstrong provides the Heritage Comment on why we need to invest in training.
Lessons learned

"Attention to detail brings stunning results" featured in the Listed Property Owners Club 'Listed Heritage' magazine. Read more on the significant renovation and refurbishment of this Elizabethan cottage.
Attention to detail brings stunning results

(21st January 2009)