About JD Residential
Professional Builders.
Personal Homes
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DRAWINGS
Most builders learn the trade on site. JD Residential started from the other side of the drawings.
Our founder, James Dalzell, holds a master's degree in town planning and built extensive experience in commercial and residential surveying in the City of London. His passion for residential buildings and eye for detail are what drive the business today.
That background still shapes how we work. We understand how architects, engineers, and planners think, we can spot what won't work before it reaches site, and we bring craftsmanship, design awareness, and professional project delivery together in one team.
For our clients, that means working with a team who understand the numbers and the drawings as well as the craft.
Built with personality
We love houses with personality. The homes we're proudest of are the ones that could only belong to the people who live in them — where a piece of bespoke joinery, a reclaimed finish, or a space built around a hobby gives the house a character all its own.
That doesn't mean one style. A home might be calm and minimal, or full of colour and period detail. What matters to us is that every decision is made with care, and that the finished house reflects the people in it.
Behind it all is the heritage of doing things properly, and a real pride in every home we hand over.
The people on site
We're a family-owned business with a closely curated team of dedicated professionals who genuinely care about what they do. Our team works on site, with a senior team member and a dedicated site office on every project.
Alongside them is a network of qualified subcontractors we bring in for their specific expertise, each trusted to work to the same standard as our own team.
That care extends beyond the site boundary. We keep neighbours informed and build good relationships with the local community, because a build affects more than just the house we're working on.
“The whole team has been very sympathetic to their surroundings during the renovation process, and my neighbours adore them all, which is quite remarkable considering the months of disruption!”
A. FINCH
What it's like to work with us
A building project can feel daunting, especially when it's your own home. We keep things straightforward and transparent: clear numbers, regular updates, and honest advice, even when it isn't what someone expected to hear.
Every project matters to us, so when a decision needs making or something unexpected comes up, we talk it through with our clients before anything goes ahead. It's how we've become trusted builders across Henley-on-Thames and the surrounding areas, and why many of our past clients are happy to share their experience with others.
You can see a selection of our work on our Projects page.
We've been trusted with some remarkable homes across Henley-on-Thames and the surrounding areas. From sensitive listed restorations to ambitious new builds, we work on the kind of projects where only the highest standard will do. Much of our work comes through recommendation, and these show why.
Characterful Restoration for Entertaining
Cookham
A Historic Cottage, Beautifully Restored
Henley-on-Thames
A Historic Cottage Reimagined
Marlow
Extension to Grade II listed home
Nettlebed
Contemporary Living by the River
Shiplake