The industry has reacted with shock and sadness at the death last weekend of Alan Cherry, founder of housebuilder Countryside Properties

Cherry was 76 when he died, six months after being diagnosed with cancer. He founded Countryside in 1958 after leaving school at 15 to work at estate agent Bairstow Eves. He took Countryside public in 1972, before returning it to private ownership in 2005.


Cherry, who was awarded a CBE in 2003, was known for a commitment to urban design that went beyond that of most housebuilders. In 2008, Countryside鈥檚 Accordia development in Cambridge became the first housing scheme to win the Stirling prize for architecture.

Cherry is survived by his wife Fay and his sons Richard and Graham.

Former construction minister Nick Raynsford led the tributes 鈥淭he industry has lost a great champion, who was behind some inspirational schemes.鈥�

Ben Derbyshire, director of architect HTA, which worked on Countryside鈥檚 Greenwich Millennium Village 鈥淗e was civilised, polite and professional. A very rare creature.鈥�

Stephen Stone, chief executive of Crest Nicholson and a former Countryside employee 鈥淚 learned a lot from him, not only in ideas but also in moral standards. He broke the mould of standardisation.鈥�

Alison Brooks, director of Alison Brooks Architects, one of the architects behind Accordia 鈥淐ountryside has been a beacon of enlightenment and ambition that has gone beyond the confines of the traditional volume housebuilder.鈥�

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