Sir Lawrence Arthur Barratt (14 November 1927 – 19 December 2012) was an English accountant and businessman who founded Barratt Developments, one of the largest housebuilders in the United Kingdom.[1]

Sir
Lawrie Barratt
Born
Lawrence Arthur Barratt

(1927-11-14)14 November 1927
Died19 December 2012(2012-12-19) (aged 85)
EmployerBarratt Developments

Career

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Brought up in the North East of England, Barratt left school at 14 and initially trained as an accountant.[2] Frustrated at the high purchase prices of houses for first-time buyers, in 1953 Barratt decided to go ahead and build his own house in Darras Hall.[2]

Lawrie Barratt established Barratt Developments in 1958. As chairman and chief executive and by extensive marketing he expanded it to become one of the largest housebuilders in the United Kingdom. Knighted in 1982,[3] he retired from both roles in 1988 but in 1991 was called out of retirement, following the early 1990s recession, to take the role of chairman again and restore the fortunes of the business.[4]

He retired for good in 1997 and lived in Corbridge.[5] He died on 19 December 2012 at age 85.[6]

He was knighted in the 1982 New Years Honours List.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Sir Lawrie Barratt". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 December 2012
  2. ^ a b "Regal Founder had a humble start". U-T San Diego. 19 June 2005. Archived from the original on 27 May 2006. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  3. ^ Meikle, James (21 August 1999). "Family builder moves into millionaire's row". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  4. ^ "1970s/1980s". Building. 5 October 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  5. ^ Armitstead, Louise (29 July 2007). "Prufrock: Peer is not going soft on Google". The Times & The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  6. ^ Fitzpatrick, Tom (20 December 2012). "Sir Lawrie Barratt dies". Construction News. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  7. ^ "No. 48837". The London Gazette. 30 December 1981. p. 1.