How it started

Our History

In 1978, a month after Ipswich Town FC lifted the FA Cup, David Barnes founded a new construction business in Ipswich called Landlink Barnes Limited. Based at New Cut West, the business soon won several contracts and a reputation for fair, non-adversarial business focussed on long-term sustainable relationships, many that have endured to the present day.

Whilst the industry continues to change, we have ensured that relationships past and present are maintained though our low staff churn and core principals of collaboration, innovation and sustainability.

Our business is proud to continue to serve our local communities with distinction, focussing on collaborative, fair and a solutions-driven approach whilst also ensuring that we continue to leave a positive legacy through social value and sustainable construction practices.

Cool Timeline
1978
1978
1978 Barnes founded as Landlink Barnes Limited
1979
1979
1979 First Barnes Construction Management Trainee appointed and our first Contract award from Taylor Barnard
1980
1980
1980 First £1 million project award for Mercedes Benz, Harwich
1982
1982
1982 First project award from Suffolk County Council for Northgate High School Library
1983
1983
1983 First project awarded at Ipswich Hospital for the construction of the New Link corridor
1983
1983
1983 Business renamed Barnes Construction Ltd and the Owl logo was adopted
1985
1985
1985 First Petrol station contract awarded by Mobil, growing our early reputation for collaborative and repeat business
1990
1990
1990 The Barnes Group Limited formed with Barnes Construction trading as its largest division
1995
1995
1995 David Barnes, founder of Barnes Construction, dies. Mary Barnes succeeds David as Chairwoman
1995
1995
1995 25th Barnes Construction Management Trainee appointed
1997
1997
1997 First RIBA Suffolk Craftsmanship Award received for Aldeburgh Barn project
1998
1998
1998 First Travelodge project secured for Luton Gateway Hotel
1998
1998
1998 Barnes Construction annual turnover exceeds £10 million
1999
1999
1999 Bob Steward and Chris Bruce appointed as Divisional Directors
2000
2000
2000 Nick Fayers appointed as Managing Director, succeeding Peter Phillips who became Barnes Group Managing Director.
2001
2001
2001 William Barnes appointed as Chairman following Mary Barnes retirement
2003
2003
2003 First Partnering project with SCC delivered at Brandon Primary School
2005
2005
2005 Successfully appointed to the first generation of the Suffolk County Council Construction Framework
2006
2006
2006 First project in excess of £5 million secured for the Norvic Clinic Mental Health Facility
2007
2007
2007 50th Barnes Construction Management Trainee appointed
2007
2007
2007 Mark Hart joined the business and appointed with Mark Bailey as Associate Directors
2008
2008
2008 Winners of East Anglian Business of The Year Award
2009
2009
2009 RIBA Suffolk Craftsmanship Award received for the Glasswells Furniture Store project in Ipswich
2009
2009
2009 First project completed for University of Cambridge. Kavli Institute for Cosmology
2010
2010
2010 Paul Lambert retires as Construction Director. Mark Hart and Mark Bailey appointed as Construction and Divisional Directors
2010
2010
2010 3,000 completed bedrooms landmark for Travelodge Hotels
2011
2011
2011 First project completed for Marston’s, a framework and partnership that would deliver over 40 pubs covering the east side of the UK
2011
2011
2011 First Premier Inn project completed at Newmarket
2011
2011
2011 The EACH Children’s Hospice project in Ipswich completed
2011
2011
2011 Appointed to the Essex County Council SMARTE East Construction Framework
2012
2012
2012 Turnover exceeds £50 million
2012
2012
2012 Appointed to the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Construction Framework
2012
2012
2012 ISO 14001 Environmental Accreditation achieved
2013
2013
2013 Cambridge City Council Considerate Contractor ‘Special Award’ achieved for Clare College project
2013
2013
2013 RIBA Suffolk Craftsmanship Award received for Pakefield High School
2015
2015
2015 RIBA Suffolk Craftsmanship Award received for the Regent Theatre project
2015
2015
2015 Mary Barnes, former Chairwoman and wife of founder David Barnes, dies
2016
2016
2016 Turnover exceeds £75 million
2017
2017
2017 First £20 million+ project completed for SCC for New Sybil Andrews Academy at Bury St Edmunds
2017
2017
2017 IBA Suffolk Craftsmanship Award received for Two Rivers Medical Centre project
2017
2017
2017 RICS East Award received for Arthur Rank Hospice at Cambridge
2017
2017
2017 Long term Managing Director and central figure to the growth of the business, Nick Fayers dies
2018
2018
2018 Bob Steward and Mark Hart appointed Joint Managing Directors, Simon Severwright appointed Divisional Director
2018
2018
2018 RIBA Suffolk Craftsmanship Award received for the CSSD project at West Suffolk Hospital
2018
2018
2018 75th Barnes Construction Management Trainee appointed
2020
2020
2020 Appointed to the NHS Shared Business Services Framework
2020
2020
2020 £10m Fair Havens Hospice completed
2021
2021
2021 Project secured for St John’s College – the 11th Cambridge College we have worked alongside
2021
2021
2021 First Passivhaus scheme secured to deliver Almshouses for Girton Town Charity
2021
2021
2021 Appointed to the Cambridgeshire County Council Design and Build Construction Framework
2022
2022
2022 Turnover exceeds £100 million
2023
2023
2023 Celebrating our 45th Year of trading