M J Gleeson Group plc is a housebuilding company in the United Kingdom. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and comprises a pair of distinct businesses: Gleeson Homes and Gleeson Strategic Land. The company was established in 1903 by Michael Joseph Gleeson who operated as a contractor and a developer in Sheffield. It developed its civil engineering capability during the Second World War via the construction of aerodromes to support Britain's war effort. By 1960, the firm was oriented towards civil engineering projects, such as power stations, sewage works and sea defense. Gleeson's presence in the private housing sector expanded during the 1990s via multiple acquisitions; the firm also entered the rail sector during 2000. Following a loss in 2005, the firm was heavily restructured, which included the divestment of its civil engineering division and various none-core activities to focus on urban regeneration, residential property management, and land. Gleeson's homebuilding activities were marketed towards first-time buyers and downsizing older buyers; its homes were more affordable due to a high level of standardisation and a deliberate focus on producing lower cost housing. Wikipedia