Galliford Try
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGalliford Try is a British construction and infrastructure contractor focused on building, highways, water and environmental projects.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Galliford Try is a United Kingdom construction and infrastructure group headquartered in Leicester, England. The present company was formed in 2000 through the merger of Try Group and Galliford plc, bringing together businesses with roots in general contracting, civil engineering and housebuilding. Try originated in London in 1908 under carpenter William S. Try, while the Galliford lineage began with Thomas Galliford's steamroller-hire business in Warwickshire in 1916 and was later re-established as a civil engineering company by his sons. Both businesses developed construction and residential interests before combining at the start of the twenty-first century. After the merger, Galliford Try operated as a diversified construction, housebuilding and public-private-finance group. Management initially retained the two established construction identities rather than immediately consolidating every activity under one operating brand. During the 2000s, the company expanded through acquisitions, particularly in residential development, while also strengthening its contracting capabilities. Acquisitions included Gerald Wood Homes, Chartdale, Kendall Cross, Linden Homes, Rosemullion Homes and Morrison Construction. The group also pursued public-sector infrastructure work, including schools and other facilities delivered through the UK's private finance initiative model. The global financial crisis placed pressure on both construction and housing operations. In the following decade, Galliford Try continued to build scale through acquisitions such as Miller Construction in 2014 and Shepherd Homes in 2015. Its construction arm delivered major building, civil engineering, highways and infrastructure schemes, while its housing businesses were consolidated under the Linden Homes identity. The company also became involved in important UK construction-law litigation after a payment dispute concerning the Salcombe Harbour Hotel project, a case that became influential in interpreting statutory payment-notice requirements. A major strategic reversal followed the financial difficulties associated with large infrastructure projects. Galliford Try was part of the joint venture delivering the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route with Balfour Beatty when the collapse of Carillion in 2018 created substantial financial and contractual complications. Additional costs were also associated with Morrison Construction's work on the Queensferry Crossing. Galliford Try raised capital through a rights issue, announced a substantial restructuring of its construction operations, and reduced its exposure to fixed-price major projects. The restructuring included a focus on buildings, water and highways and was accompanied by job reductions, particularly in Scottish infrastructure operations. The group then separated from its housebuilding interests. After an unsuccessful initial approach in 2019, Bovis Homes agreed to acquire Galliford Try's Linden Homes and Partnerships and Regeneration businesses. The transaction completed in January 2020, with Bovis Homes later becoming Vistry Group. Galliford Try received a combination of cash and shares, creating a more strongly capitalised standalone contracting business. Bill Hocking, previously responsible for the construction division, became chief executive of the continuing group. Today, Galliford Try is primarily a UK infrastructure and construction contractor. Its activities cover building projects, transport infrastructure and highways, water and wastewater, environmental work and related civil engineering services. The company has also maintained or expanded capabilities through acquisitions, including the purchase of NMCN's water business from administrators in 2021. In 2024, it announced a growth strategy that included a return to affordable housing. Its recent public profile has included disputes and remedial work connected with building quality and water-system issues, alongside efforts to grow in selected infrastructure and social-housing markets.
History
Galliford Try's history combines two British contracting traditions. Try was established in London in 1908 by carpenter William S. Try and operated as a general contractor. It later developed a housing arm, although its residential output remained comparatively modest. Galliford began in 1916 when Thomas Galliford established a steamroller-hire operation in Warwickshire. After the Second World War, his sons re-formed the enterprise as a civil engineering business, Galliford & Sons, incorporated in 1952. Galliford became a public company in 1965 and entered private housebuilding in the 1970s. The two groups expanded separately through acquisitions and diversification before merging in 2000. The combination initially produced integration costs and prompted management to close underperforming offices and reduce staffing. Galliford Try retained separate construction brands in its early years while increasing scale in housing and contracting. Residential acquisitions during the 2000s included Gerald Wood Homes, Chartdale, Kendall Cross, Linden Homes and Rosemullion Homes. The acquisition of Morrison Construction from AWG in 2006 significantly strengthened the group's civil engineering and infrastructure platform. Housebuilding and public infrastructure were important growth areas during the decade. The company set targets for increasing home sales and construction turnover, rebranded its residential operation as Galliford Try Homes in 2007 and later consolidated regional housing businesses under Linden Homes. It also secured public-sector work through private finance initiative arrangements, including schools and related facilities. The financial crisis placed pressure on the group's markets, but the company continued to pursue selective expansion. In the 2010s, Galliford Try broadened its construction footprint through Miller Construction, acquired in 2014, and Shepherd Homes, acquired in 2015. It also became involved in the Galliford Try Building Ltd v Estura Ltd dispute arising from the Salcombe Harbour Hotel project. The case addressed payment notices under UK construction legislation and became a notable authority in construction payment law. The most consequential period came after major infrastructure projects generated substantial additional costs. Galliford Try was a joint-venture partner on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route with Balfour Beatty. Carillion's collapse in 2018 affected the project and exposed Galliford Try to further costs. Morrison Construction also had a role on the Queensferry Crossing, another major project associated with financial pressure. The company raised capital through a rights issue, subsequently said it would avoid fixed-price major projects of this type, and undertook a strategic review. The review led to a smaller construction operation, job reductions and a narrower focus on buildings, water and highways. The group then divested its housing businesses. After rejecting an earlier offer, Galliford Try agreed to sell Linden Homes and its partnerships and regeneration businesses to Bovis Homes. Completion in January 2020 transformed the company into a standalone contractor and provided cash and shares that supported recapitalisation. The purchaser later became Vistry Group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Galliford Try furloughed employees and suspended a previously announced dividend while assessing operational and supply-chain effects. The post-divestment company has concentrated on UK construction and infrastructure. It acquired NMCN's water business from administrators in 2021 and moved its headquarters to Leicester that year. In 2024 it announced a growth strategy involving a return to affordable housing. More recent issues have included a disputed fire-safety claim relating to the Rope Quays development and remedial intervention at a Worthing health facility affected by water-system problems. These matters illustrate the continuing legal, technical and delivery risks inherent in large construction projects, while the company's core strategy remains focused on selected UK building, transport, water and environmental markets.
- 2024
Affordable-housing growth strategy announced
[1]The company announced plans to re-enter the affordable-housing market as part of a broader growth strategy.
- 2021
NMCN water business acquired
[1]Galliford Try purchased NMCN's water business from administrators.
- 2020
Housing division sold
[1]Linden Homes and the partnerships and regeneration businesses were sold to Bovis Homes.
- 2019
Construction restructuring announced
[1]Galliford Try announced a smaller, more selective construction business centered on buildings, water and highways.
- 2018
Rights issue follows infrastructure-project costs
[1]The group raised new capital after cost pressures on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and related infrastructure work.
- 2014
Miller Construction acquired
[1]Galliford Try bought Miller Construction from Miller Homes.
- 2011
Housing divisions consolidated under Linden Homes
[1]Galliford Try's individual housebuilding divisions were brought together under the Linden Homes name.
- 2006
Morrison Construction acquired
[1]The acquisition from AWG expanded the group's infrastructure and civil engineering operations.
- 2000
Galliford Try formed
[1]Try Group and Galliford plc merged to create Galliford Try.
- 1965
Galliford becomes public
[1]Galliford became a public company.
Products and positioning
A UK-focused, publicly listed construction and infrastructure contractor emphasizing disciplined project selection and capabilities in buildings, highways, water and environmental markets.
Construction services
Building
Galliford Try delivers building projects across public and private sectors. The work has included education, healthcare, commercial, residential and other public facilities. Its building activity forms part of the continuing contractor business following the 2020 sale of the housing division, with an emphasis on project delivery, refurbishment and construction management within the UK.
Infrastructure construction
Highways and transport
The highways and transport business covers civil engineering and infrastructure work associated with roads, highways and related transport assets. Galliford Try has participated in major UK infrastructure schemes and, after restructuring, identified highways as one of its core markets. The company has also sought to apply a more selective approach to risk allocation and major-project pricing.
Water infrastructure · 2021
Water
Galliford Try provides construction and engineering services for water and wastewater infrastructure. The group expanded this capability through its acquisition of NMCN's water business in 2021. Water became one of the company's core post-restructuring markets, alongside buildings and highways.
Environmental infrastructure
Environment
Environmental work forms part of Galliford Try's contemporary infrastructure portfolio. It includes engineering and construction activity connected with environmental assets and public infrastructure. The segment supports the company's strategy of concentrating on technically related UK markets rather than returning to the former diversified housebuilding model.
Housing and regeneration · 2024
Affordable housing
In 2024 Galliford Try announced a strategic return to affordable housing. This represents a targeted re-entry into a market that had previously been central to the group but was sold to Bovis Homes in 2020. The initiative was presented as part of a new growth strategy rather than a restoration of the former housebuilding structure.
Controversies
2025
Rope Quays fire-safety dispute
Galliford Try disputed a claim by Taylor Wimpey concerning alleged fire-safety issues at the Rope Quays development in Gosport. The site was built by Morrison Construction, which Galliford Try had acquired, and the matter became a public dispute over construction responsibility and remediation.
2025
Worthing health-facility water-system problems
Galliford Try took control of a health facility in Worthing to resolve water-system issues that prevented the building from opening approximately a year after construction was completed. The reported problems increased the project's cost and raised concerns about construction quality and commissioning.
Brand decisions
2024
Return to affordable housingStrategyBackground
Following the 2020 disposal of its former housing division, Galliford Try identified affordable housing as an opportunity within a new growth strategy.
Action taken
The company announced plans to re-enter the affordable-housing market.
2021
Acquire NMCN water businessM&ABackground
NMCN entered administration, making its water operations available for sale.
Action taken
Galliford Try acquired the water business from NMCN's administrators.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened Galliford Try's position in the water market, one of its stated core sectors.
Acquisition price. £1 million (2021)
2020
Sell housing and regeneration businessesM&ABackground
Galliford Try sought to separate its more profitable housing activities from a construction business that required recapitalisation after major-project cost pressures.
Action taken
The group sold Linden Homes and its Partnerships and Regeneration businesses to Bovis Homes in a cash-and-share transaction.
Aftermath
The sale created a standalone contractor and transferred the housing interests to the business that later became Vistry Group.
2019
Downsize and refocus construction operationsStrategyBackground
Additional costs on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and Queensferry Crossing contributed to losses in the construction division.
Action taken
Galliford Try initiated a strategic review, reduced the scale of construction operations and focused on buildings, water and highways.
Aftermath
The restructuring was expected to affect approximately 350 jobs and cost the group about £10 million.
Restructuring cost. £10 million (2019)
2018
Raise capital after Aberdeen route cost overrunsStrategyBackground
Galliford Try faced significant additional costs on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route after the collapse of joint-venture partner Carillion.
Action taken
The company launched a rights issue and raised approximately £158 million.
Aftermath
Management subsequently stated that the construction division would avoid fixed-price major projects of this type and began restructuring the business.
Rights issue proceeds. £158 million raised (2018)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Galliford Try sponsors local motorcycle race team[2]
Galliford Try is sponsoring a local motorcycle race team.
Reported
Bovis Homes completes acquisition of Linden Homes and Partnerships & Regeneration businesses[3]
Bovis Homes Group PLC completed its acquisition of Galliford Try plc’s Linden Homes and Partnerships & Regeneration businesses.
Sources4 sources
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