Persimmon review calls for culture change

Persimmon needs to re-consider its purpose and ambition if it wishes to be a builder of quality homes, according to the housebuilder’s independent review of its business.

The report from the independent review team, published today, is the result of a survey of Persimmon’s customers, workforce and other stakeholders. It is critical of many areas of the operation finding a “poor culture” and a “lack of a group build process”. This has resulted in problems including missing or improperly fitted cavity barriers on its timber frame properties.

The report focuses on nine areas including corporate culture, build process, cavity barriers, customer service and remuneration.

The report finds: “If the board wishes Persimmon to be a builder of quality homes, meeting all relevant build and safety standards, then it should reconsider Persimmon’s purpose and ambition.” It adds that aspirations to build quality homes cannot “be realised simply by achieving a four or five star HBF rating”.

The report says that the firm must recognise that “genuine customer care starts with the quality of the build”. It adds: “Persimmon’s culture must change: many of Persimmon’s employees, customers and stakeholders wish Persimmon to change, and in a changing regulatory environment, Persimmon cannot …