Huw Llewellyn does not come from privilege. He comes from people, place and lived experience. That background shapes everything he believes about housing and why Derwen May Homes exists.
Huw grew up in a modest dormer bungalow in Llanfairpwll. His wife Tina was raised on a council estate in Malpas, Newport. On his father’s side, Huw’s grandparents never owned their own home. His great grandmother lived in a house with an outside toilet and an earthen floor. These are not distant stories passed down for sentiment. They are real memories that define how Huw sees housing, dignity and opportunity.
For Huw, a home has never been an abstract concept or an asset class. It has always been the centre of family life, security and aspiration. It is where wellbeing begins and where hope either grows or fades. That understanding runs deep and it is the reason he believes so strongly that everyone should have access to decent housing.
Huw’s career in housebuilding spans more than two decades. He has delivered successful residential developments across Wales and held senior leadership roles within national PLC developers. That experience gave him a clear view of what works and what fails communities. It showed him the difference between building houses and building places. It also showed him how easily people can be forgotten when decisions are driven by margin rather than meaning.
Derwen May Homes was created to put that right.
Huw is not interested in building homes that look impressive on a balance sheet but feel disconnected from the people who live in them. His passion is for communities. He cares deeply about the towns and villages where Derwen May builds, because he recognises them. He knows the families. He understands the pressures they face. He builds for customers he can see himself in and for neighbours he wants to thrive.
That connection to place matters. Huw believes that housing should strengthen communities, not dilute them. It should support local economies, not extract from them. It should offer comfort, pride and security, not compromise or short term thinking.
This belief shapes how Derwen May operates. Homes are designed for real lives, with space, light and energy efficiency built in from the start. Developments are planned to feel part of their surroundings, respectful of local character and landscape. Welsh contractors and suppliers are prioritised wherever possible, keeping investment local and skills alive. Quality and health and safety are never treated as negotiable.
Huw’s affinity for the people he works with is just as strong as his commitment to the people he builds for. He believes in collaboration, respect and shared purpose. He wants his teams, partners and contractors to succeed alongside the business. When people are valued, the work improves. When pride is present, quality follows.
At the heart of this is a simple belief. Housing is about people. It is about fairness, wellbeing and opportunity. When housing fails, communities suffer. When housing is done well, it becomes a foundation for health, education and prosperity.
“I have never forgotten where I come from. I know what it means to grow up without certainty about housing, and I know how much a good home can change a life. At Derwen May, we build for the people and the communities of Wales because everyone deserves a decent place to live and a future they can believe in.” Huw Llewellyn, Managing Director, Derwen May Homes
Huw’s story is not about personal success. It is about responsibility. It is about using experience to make better choices and to leave a positive mark on the places that matter most. He believes that Welsh communities deserve housing that reflects care, integrity and pride in place.
Derwen May Homes carries that belief into every project. It builds with purpose, rooted in lived experience and guided by a desire to see people and places flourish. That is why Huw leads the business the way he does. He is from the people, building for the people, and committed to ensuring that quality housing remains a right, not a privilege, across Wales.
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