A homegrown Cumbrian property developer has built more than 200 new homes across the county over the last 15 years, with many more on the horizon.  

The Willan family returned to their home county of Cumbria in 2008 after spending eight years living in Canada, where John Willan, his wife Fiona and his brother Stephen rented out storage units and apartments, as well as developing their own auction mart business in Ontario.

John and Fiona’s son, Jonathan, was 12 years old when the family made the move, but like the rest of the family felt the pull to return.

“Canada was a great place, yet it lacked that important touch of feeling like home,” said Jonathan, who is now the company’s managing director. On their return, the family again went into business together by building their first property in Appleby. It laid the foundations for the incorporation of the family business, Willan Trading Limited, which is still thriving today.

The company - which now operates under the brand name Willan Living - was incorporated in 2010, building two units a year at the time with Jonathan and the rest of the family taking a hands-on approach.

Based in Brougham, Penrith, it now builds around 25 units a year and has constructed almost 250 homes across 29 developments in and around Cumbria since it began.

Current developments include a 14-property development at The Pastures, Moorhouse - which is nearing completion - and the commencement of five barn conversions and five new builds at Manor Farm, Thursby. Both sites are near Carlisle.

The company also has a live planning application in progress for their upcoming site at Newlands Estate, Braithwaite, featuring 15 new homes.

More family members have joined the business since 2010, namely Jonathan’s wife Natasha, who is head of brand and business development, and his brother Jamie, who is head of construction. They are part of a team of 14 staff with Willan Living also engaging a network of subcontractors and other professionals.

Jonathan says while the cost of building houses has risen in recent years, Willan have remained focused on producing quality homes. “We are really driven to create quality homes, carefully choosing the locations where we place them,” he said.