Berkeley Group founder Tony Pidgley dies aged 72

Tony Pidgley, founder and chairman of housebuilder Berkeley Group has died aged 72.

Pidgley left school at 15 to form his own haulage and plant hire firm that he sold aged 19 to Crest Homes. He became a building director at the firm before leaving to form Berkeley in 1976.

Berkeley grew to become a FTSE 100 company and has overseen several major regeneration programmes, including the Royal Arsenal munitions site in Woolwich, London, and the revival of Hackley’s Woodberry Down estate.

Pidgley advised successive governments on regeneration, placemaking, housing and developing public land. He was a member of Lord Heseltine’s Estate Regeneration Advisory Panel, the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission and the Mayor’s Outer London Commission. He was the longest serving president in the history of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was awarded a CBE in 2013 for "services to the housing sector and the community".

Berkeley group chief cxecutive Rob Perrins said: "It is with the greatest sadness that we confirm the sudden death of Tony Pidgley. On behalf of everyone at Berkeley, I have extended our deepest sympathies to his wife Sarah and the children."

"Tony was a brilliant man who I have been fortunate to work closely with for 20 years. He started by building one house and his vision grew Berkeley 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."

"Berkeley and I owe Tony a huge debt. With my team I will ensure this debt is honoured by continuing to position Berkeley as the leading place-maker and ensuring it continues to be a company of which he would be proud. "

Glyn Barker, interim chairman, added: "It has been an immense privilege to work with Tony. Tony 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."