Walter Lilly celebrates its centenary

Chartered building company Walter Lilly has celebrated being in business for 100 years.

The firm started in April 1924 as a family business founded by tradesman, Walter Gent Lilly, who capitalised on his good fortune after winning the freehold of a London builder’s yard in a game of cards.

The company was acquired by YJ Lovell Group (later Renew Holdings) in 1955 and grew its portfolio to include some of London’s most prestigious buildings, including Café Royal, Southwark Cathedral, the Palace of Westminster, 1 Cornwall Terrace – Britain’s most expensive terraced property at the time – and 100 Park Lane, one of the few surviving aristocratic townhouses in London.

More recently, it delivered its largest project to date, the £84m Laboratory of Medical Sciences for the Medical Research Council.

As the focus shifts towards the UK government’s 2025 net zero target, Walter Lilly is working alongside its clients to provide sustainable project delivery. Examples include the reservicing of a number of Grade-I London palaces to assist in achieving carbon-neutral estates including a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Managing director Chris Butler said: “This anniversary represents not only a century of hard work, determination and continuous improvement, but also the immense potential that awaits us as we look to the future.”

100.walterlilly.co.uk