Persimmon vs Redrow: Which New Build Developer Is Better?

Persimmon and Redrow are two of the best-known names buyers encounter when searching for a new build home. If both have developments within your search area, it is tempting to ask a simple question: is Persimmon or Redrow better?

The useful answer is more nuanced. Current customer-satisfaction data gives Redrow the stronger HBF recommendation result, while the latest Trustpilot score displayed by New Build Rankings is higher for Persimmon. The difference is a good example of why buyers should compare separate measures rather than relying on one star rating.

This comparison uses the data shown on New Build Rankings on 7 September 2026. Scores and ranking positions can change as source data is refreshed, so check the live Persimmon profile, Redrow profile and developer rankings before making a decision.

Persimmon vs Redrow: how do their current ratings compare?

New Build Rankings uses the Home Builders Federation rolling 12-month 'would recommend' percentage as the primary ranking signal where qualifying HBF data is available. On the current figures, Redrow leads Persimmon on that measure.

• Redrow: 94.1% would recommend, based on 12,411 surveyed buyers; #32 in the current HBF rankings.

• Persimmon: 91.8% would recommend, based on 8,459 surveyed buyers; #38 in the current HBF rankings.

• Redrow therefore leads by 2.3 percentage points on the displayed HBF recommendation measure.

• Both percentages are above 90%, but the ranking position also depends on how the full field of HBF-rated developers performs.

HBF satisfaction data is useful because it is a structured industry survey. It should still be treated as national context rather than a promise about the build quality or aftercare on one development.

Which has better Trustpilot reviews: Persimmon or Redrow?

The latest Trustpilot snapshots displayed on the developer profiles tell a different story. Persimmon is currently shown at 4.6 out of 5 from 13,369 reviews, while Redrow is shown at 4.3 out of 5 from 9,692 reviews.

That does not cancel out the HBF result. Trustpilot and HBF measure customer feedback in different ways, use different samples and should not be blended into one artificial score. New Build Rankings deliberately keeps these sources separate.

When you read public reviews, look beyond the average and search for patterns that matter to your purchase:

• How buyers describe communication before completion.

• Whether snagging issues are acknowledged quickly.

• How often reviewers mention repeat repair visits.

• Experiences with the local site and customer-care teams.

• Comments about finish quality at handover.

• Whether reviews relate to a recent purchase and a development near the one you are considering.

Our guide to comparing UK housebuilders explains how to use ratings and reviews without letting either source dominate your decision.

What is the main difference between Persimmon and Redrow for buyers?

At national level, both are major housebuilding brands with large development pipelines, so the most important buyer differences often appear when you compare the exact developments, house types and plots available in your area.

New Build Rankings currently lists 181 Persimmon developments and 110 Redrow developments from the companies' published development information. Those figures are useful for understanding the breadth of choice captured by the site, but availability changes as plots and phases are released.

Redrow now operates within the Barratt Redrow group following the combination of the businesses. Persimmon operates through brands including Persimmon Homes and Charles Church. Brand structure can matter for research, but your purchase should still be assessed using the paperwork and customer-care arrangements for the exact home you are buying.

Is Redrow better than Persimmon for customer satisfaction?

On the current HBF 'would recommend' figures shown by New Build Rankings, Redrow has the stronger result: 94.1% compared with Persimmon's 91.8%. Redrow also sits six places higher in the current HBF-based ranking.

If HBF recommendation performance is your primary comparison measure, that gives Redrow the edge today. But it would be misleading to translate a 2.3-point national difference into a prediction that a particular Redrow plot will be better built than a particular Persimmon plot.

The site manager, subcontractors, phase of construction, specification, local customer-care team and the individual property all affect the experience you may have.

Is Persimmon better than Redrow for public reviews?

On the Trustpilot scores currently displayed by New Build Rankings, Persimmon has the higher headline rating. Its 4.6 out of 5 is above Redrow's 4.3 out of 5, and both profiles have thousands of reviews.

A public review score can be valuable for identifying recurring themes and recent sentiment, but it is self-selected feedback. Use it as supporting evidence rather than a direct substitute for the structured HBF recommendation result.

Compare the house, not just the housebuilder

A national developer comparison becomes genuinely useful only when it helps you ask better questions about two real homes. If you have a Persimmon plot and a Redrow plot on your shortlist, compare them side by side.

• Purchase price after every incentive and upgrade is included.

• Internal floor area and usable room dimensions, not bedroom count alone.

• Garden size, orientation, slope and overlooking.

• Parking position, visitor parking and electric-vehicle charging arrangements.

• Standard kitchen, bathroom, flooring and appliance specification.

• Estate-management or service charges and what they pay for.

• Future construction phases, nearby roads and planned community facilities.

• Warranty provider and the developer's after-sales process.

• Expected completion window and how delays are handled.

• Recent local homeowner feedback for the same development or regional team.

If one property is being sold off plan, use our off-plan new build checklist so the show home does not become your only reference point.

Which developer has the better specification?

There is no safe national answer. Specification varies by development, house type, sales phase and the upgrades selected by the buyer. A feature included as standard on one Redrow home could be an optional extra elsewhere; the same applies to Persimmon.

Ask both sales teams for the written specification for the exact plots. Mark every difference that would cost you money after moving in, including flooring, wardrobes, appliances, turf, fencing, lighting and external taps.

If incentives are part of either deal, compare their real value rather than the headline marketing number. The new build incentives guide explains why lender disclosure and genuine buyer value matter.

What about snagging and aftercare?

Aftercare can influence how a small defect feels after completion. A minor snag that is acknowledged and repaired quickly is a different experience from the same issue requiring repeated chasing.

Ask each development how defects are reported, who owns the issue after completion and what response process buyers receive. Then cross-check recent reviews for the same region. If you plan to commission an inspection, read is a snagging survey worth it? and browse the UK snagging company directory.

Persimmon vs Redrow: which should you choose?

If you judge only the current HBF recommendation measure, Redrow leads. If you judge only the Trustpilot rating currently displayed on New Build Rankings, Persimmon leads. That split is exactly why the final decision should move from national brand data to the actual development and plot.

Use the ratings to build your shortlist. Then visit both sites, compare written specifications, speak to residents if appropriate, inspect completed phases and ask both sales teams the same questions. A stronger national score should not persuade you to accept a worse plot, unsuitable layout or unclear ongoing costs.

A simple Persimmon vs Redrow buyer checklist

• Check today's live HBF recommendation figures on both developer profiles.

• Read recent Trustpilot feedback, especially reviews relevant to your region.

• Compare exact plot prices after incentives and upgrades.

• Get the written specification for both homes.

• Check estate-management and service-charge arrangements.

• Ask about build stage, estimated completion and mortgage timing.

• Understand the warranty and pre-completion inspection process.

• Research snagging and after-sales experiences at development level.

• Choose the home and location that work for you, not simply the badge with the higher national score.

The bottom line

Redrow currently performs more strongly than Persimmon on the HBF recommendation data used by New Build Rankings, while Persimmon currently has the higher displayed Trustpilot score. Neither result is a universal verdict on every home the companies build.

For a wider comparison, browse the full UK new build developer rankings and developer directory. You can also compare the approach with our existing Bellway vs Taylor Wimpey guide.