About Oakwood
A family business built on word of mouth, honest pricing, and work we're proud of.
Our Story
Oakwood Property Services started in 2014 with a van, a toolkit, and a reputation. David Carter had spent the previous twenty years as a site manager for one of South London's larger building firms, overseeing extensions, renovations, and new builds across Croydon, Bromley, and beyond. He knew the trade inside out, and he knew how the industry treated homeowners — the vague quotes, the missed deadlines, the corners cut when nobody was looking. He decided to do it differently.
The first few years were David and a small crew of tradespeople he'd worked with for decades, taking on one or two projects at a time and letting the work speak for itself. There was no advertising, no website, no social media. Every new client came through a recommendation from the last one, and that pattern held for longer than most businesses could get away with.
In 2018, David's son James joined full-time after studying Construction Management at London South Bank University. He brought a sharper eye for project planning, better systems for tracking costs and timelines, and the technical knowledge to handle Building Control submissions and structural calculations in-house. Between them, they turned a reliable two-man operation into a proper building company — without losing the things that made it work in the first place.
Today, Oakwood is a team of fifteen: project managers, an architectural designer, skilled tradespeople, and a network of trusted subcontractors we've worked with for years. We're based in Croydon and work across South London — Bromley, Crystal Palace, Norwood, Thornton Heath, and the surrounding areas. We still take on fewer projects at a time than most firms our size, because that's how you do them properly. And we still don't advertise — this website is the closest we've come.
Meet the Team
The people behind every Oakwood project.
David Carter
Founder & Director
David started Oakwood in 2003 after twenty years as a site manager for a large South London building firm. He grew up in Croydon, trained as a bricklayer at Croydon College, and has been working on houses across the borough for over thirty-five years. He still visits every project personally and handles all initial consultations — if you’re getting a quote, you’re talking to David.
James Carter
Operations Director
James joined the business full-time in 2014 after studying Construction Management at London South Bank University. He manages the day-to-day running of projects, coordinates subcontractors and suppliers, and handles the technical side of Building Control and planning submissions. He also oversees all structural work and is usually the one on the phone when you have a question during your build.
Sophie Wren
Project Manager
Sophie keeps every project running to schedule and on budget. She joined Oakwood in 2019 from a commercial construction background and brought a level of organisation the team freely admits they needed. She manages client communication, coordinates material deliveries, tracks programme milestones, and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Tom Ashworth
Architectural Designer
Tom produces all of Oakwood’s architectural drawings, planning applications, and 3D visualisations. He trained at the University of Greenwich and has a particular interest in period properties and how to extend them sympathetically. He works closely with clients during the design stage to make sure the plans reflect what they actually want to live in, not just what looks good on paper.
Accreditations & Insurance
Vetted, insured, and held to the highest industry standards.
Federation of Master Builders
Vetted, audited, and independently inspected to meet the highest standards in the building industry.
TrustMark
Government-endorsed quality standard for tradespeople. Every job we do is backed by TrustMark's consumer protection framework.
Public Liability Insurance
Fully insured with £5 million public liability cover, giving you complete peace of mind throughout every project.
Waste Carrier Licence
Licensed by the Environment Agency to remove and dispose of construction waste responsibly and legally.
What We Stand For
Build it once, build it right
We don't take shortcuts and we don't cut corners. Every joint is checked, every finish is inspected, and every decision is made with the long term in mind. It takes a bit longer to do things properly, but it means you won't be calling someone else to fix our work in five years.
No surprises
You get a detailed, itemised quote before any work begins. If something changes during the build, we explain it, show you the options, and agree the cost before we proceed. Weekly progress updates with photos keep you informed throughout. We'd rather over-communicate than leave you wondering.
Your home, your project
We're guests in your house. That means clean boots, tidy sites, dust sheets where they should be, and music at a respectful volume. It also means your decisions are respected — we'll give you our honest advice, but we won't pressure you into choices that aren't right for you.
Ready to talk about your project?
Book a free, no-obligation site visit. We'll assess your property, talk through your options, and give you a realistic idea of cost and timescale.