Independent housebuilder Dandara has launched a new Partnerships division as part of its strategy to deliver over 3,000 homes per year.
The dedicated, client-facing team will focus on building strong relationships with housing associations, local authorities, and Government bodies to help meet rising demand for affordable and mixed-tenure housing across the UK. Over the medium to long term, Partnerships is expected to contribute at least 40% of Dandara’s UK output.
To lead this new division, Richard Matthews, formerly Managing Director for the Southern Region, has been appointed Managing Director of Partnerships for the Dandara Group. Richard brings extensive expertise in land acquisition, project delivery, and public sector engagement. He will shape the strategic direction of the division and embed collaborative working across the business.
The new division builds on a period of strong delivery for Dandara, who completing a record-breaking 1800 homes across three tenures between July 2024 and July 2025 – the highest annual total in the company’s history.
Richard Matthews said: “The demand for high-quality, affordable housing isn’t going anywhere – and if we’re serious about delivering at scale, collaboration with public sector partners is key. This division gives us the structure to be more proactive and more visible to housing associations, local authorities and Government across the country. It’s an exciting step for the business and I’m proud to spearhead it.”
Joining Richard this month is Russell Turner, appointed Partnerships Director. Russell brings over 25 years’ experience in affordable housing, most recently as Head of Affordable Housing at Redrow, where he led the group’s national strategy and delivery. He has also held senior roles at Clarion Housing and Airey Miller, with deep expertise in land-led package deals, joint ventures, funding models and regulatory processes.
Russell Turner said: “What drew me to Dandara was the clarity of ambition and the real appetite to do things differently. There’s a strong focus on getting things right – from the way we engage with partners to the quality of the homes we deliver. I’m excited to build on that and help create a platform that’s trusted, effective, and forward-looking.”
Chris Harris, Chief Operating Officer at Dandara, added: “As we grow, it’s vital we remain responsive to the way housing demand is changing – and that means strengthening our ability to work alongside the public sector. The creation of a dedicated partnerships team is a natural evolution of our model and a key part of building a resilient, balanced pipeline. Richard and Russell bring complementary strengths, deep sector knowledge and a delivery-focused mindset that will serve our partners and our business well.”
The launch of the Partnerships division reflects Dandara’s wider commitment to expanding housing delivery through long-term relationships, collaboration, and tenure diversity, supported by a growing network of regional offices across the UK.
For more information, visit www.dandara.com