Wates Developments - new homes in Midlands

Strength through experience Where it all began In 1897 Edward Wates and his brother set up the first Wates company. During the 1920s and 1930s Edward's sons, Norman, Sir Ronald and Allan, expanded the business by pioneering speculative house building and extending into general contracting. During the Second World War, the company built aerodromes, army camps, factories and most notably developed a speciality in constructing pre-cast and in situ reinforced concrete barges and floating docks and supplied major parts of the Mulberry Harbours that were used in the Normandy landings. After the War, the company used this knowledge of pre-cast concrete to develop high and low rise industrialised housing systems and built over 60,000 homes using these techniques. As the company prospered property development was added to the core housing, contracting and plant business. Today, Wates remains a privately owned business with the Wates family continuing in the founder's footsteps, delivering buildings that create space for people in every aspect of their lives.