Two Major Milestones For Swanland Site Manager

A Redrow site manager will build his 500th home while in charge of its East Riding development, Swanland Heights.  It also marks his 20th year of site management.

Paul Douglass, a previous winner of Site Manager of the Year for Redrow in Yorkshire, is currently overseeing the build of 56 new homes at Swanland Heights, in the village of Swanland.

Paul, 49, from York, followed his father’s footsteps into the construction industry.  After working as a labourer at the age of 15, he became an apprentice joiner before rising through the ranks as site foreman, assistant site manager and then site manager. He has worked for Redrow twice in his career, rejoining the company in October 2017.

Paul says that this past year has presented some brand new challenges in site management, not only in how he and his team build the homes but also how he maintains his relationships with Redrow’s customers:

“We’ve gone from doing everything face to face to having to interact online, such as conducting our ‘hard hat tours’ of their under-construction homes via Zoom. I think it’s really important for customers to be able to put a face to a name, especially when that person is overseeing the build of their brand new home.

“It’s my job as the site manager to provide reassurance to customers as they wait for their homes to complete, especially since the need to social distance on-site and within the properties we’re building means the construction process may take a little longer.” 

Paul’s 500th home he will be building is actually his favourite Redrow house-style, the Leamington Lifestyle and he is currently overseeing the build of nine of these at Swanland Heights.

“I think they look so impressive from the outside and, inside, the fact that it’s a three-bedroom home built on the footprint of a four-bedroom home, means each bedroom comes with its own en-suite. It’s really luxurious and something not seen in many houses,” adds Paul.

Since starting on the site at the end of 2019, Paul, his three Redrow construction colleagues, plus an army of sub-contractors have worked hard to earn Considerate Constructors status.

This industry-standard is awarded to developments which adhere to a code of considerate practise, including items that relate to the appearance of the site, showing respect for the local community, protecting the environment and valuing the workforce who build the homes.

Paul and his team – which includes assistant site manager Joe Holmes, who lives in Swanland – received the highest score of Redrow developments being built in the region and received a certificate of excellence. The team was also scored on their health and safety performance based on a range of Covid protocols set up by Paul post-lockdown.

“I have always said that it’s not just my work that makes the developments I manage as good as they are, it’s a real team effort. Everyone on-site at Swanland Heights is important and their welfare while working with me is top of my priority list.”

Paul and his team are building a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes at Swanland Heights, including some bungalows.

There are currently three and four-bedroom detached homes available from £314,950 to £424,950. To find out more visit www.redrow.co.uk/swanland or call 01482 767117.