Magor-based housing developer Edenstone has been acquired by its employees and is now 100% owned through an employee ownership trust (EOT). The business, renamed Edenstone Partnership following the deal, employs around 100 people and builds up to 400 new homes each year across 12 developments in South Wales and south-west England.
Founders Hand Over Ownership
Founded by Jeff and Martin Taylor in 2003, Edenstone has moved to employee ownership with the value of the deal undisclosed. The company is increasingly focused on housing projects delivered with partners, including affordable housing providers and the private rented sector. In its current financial year to the end of April 2027, it is on track to post revenues of £85m.
Executive chairman Martin Taylor said: “As business owners, we’ve worked hard to build value and to do the right thing for our employees and partners. Going forward, we wanted to ensure we could preserve the business and its strengths, focussed on delivering quality homes to our customers, while providing a proven and equitable platform for its future security.”
Why Employee Ownership Was Chosen
Mr Taylor explained that the decision was about more than ownership, adding: “It’s about ensuring the business remains true to the values, culture and people that have shaped it for approaching 25 years. Although a third-party sale may have been more financially attractive, it can often come at the expense of a company’s identity and workforce.”
He said employee ownership allows the business to honour its legacy and reward employee loyalty, and added: “I’m excited to take on the challenge of being executive chairman in a business that is 100% employee owned. We hope this will enable us to continue delivering much-needed homes and supporting local jobs for many more decades to come.”
Wider Employee Ownership Context
Around 3,000 businesses in the UK are employee-owned, including more than 100 in Wales. Construction is the fastest-growing sector for employee ownership, up 6,580% between 2014 and 2025. However, deals are no longer capital gains exempted.
Mr Taylor said: “Becoming employee-owned offers continuity. It’s the same business, team and approach. It removes the prospect of a future sale or break-up and lets the business plan over a much longer horizon.” He also noted the transition should give customers and partners added peace of mind, adding: “We intend to continue looking for opportunities to grow the business, where and when long-term sustainable opportunities present themselves.”
Trust Structure and Advisers
The transition was managed by Hafren Consulting, with Randall Edwards, senior partner at Hafren, leading the purchase on behalf of the trust and continuing as a member of the trustee board. Mr Edwards said: “I believe Edenstone has all the ingredients needed to become a highly successful employee-owned business.”
The Edenstone board continues to run the business and make operational and commercial decisions, while the trust, as 100% owner, oversees the board on behalf of all employees. Employees are represented on the trustee board by an employee representative director. The trustee board has five directors: independent trustee Mr Edwards, independent trustee Alan Whiteley, founder and executive chairman Mr Taylor, finance director Stuart Rodden and operations director Chris Edge.
