Berkeley Group chairman Tony Pidgley dies

Berkeley Group chairman Tony Pidgley has died, aged 72.

The housebuilder announced the news in a market statement on Friday afternoon.

Pidgley founded the company as Berkeley Homes in 1976 as a small housebuilder, growing it to the extent that it was listed in 1985. Earlier this year it was revealed that the firm had a net cash pile of £1.1bn.

In 2013, Pidgley was named as one of the first members of the Construction Leadership Council. Earlier that year he was awarded a CBE for services to the housing sector and the community.

Chief executive Rob Perrins said: “Tony was a brilliant man who I have been fortunate to work closely with for 20 years. He started Berkeley by building one house and his vision grew into a FTSE 100 company. He knew he would never retire so he ensured that his culture was embedded in the company for when this sad day came.”

Perrins vowed to continue to run the company in a manner that Pidgley would be proud of.

Former Interserve chairman Glyn Barker is now Berkeley interim chairman. He added in the company statement: “It has been an immense privilege to work with Tony. He created a unique company with a strong management team that has been led by Rob Perrins since 2009. Under Rob’s leadership, Tony’s values of ambition and quality will ensure the business continues to flourish.”

The statement extended the company’s “deepest sympathies […] to his wife, Sarah, and his children”.

A spokesman for the company said Pidgley died after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Housing minister Christopher Pincher said on Twitter: “He was one of the best known, successful and most respected figures in the housing sector. My thoughts are with his wife and their family at this time.”

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Sorry to hear of the death of Tony Pidgley. He was a colossus of the property world. A brilliant, self-made man, who built one house and turned the business into a FTSE 100 company.”