Persimmon Homes, the UK’s leading housebuilder, is calling on charities across Hampshire to enter its 40th birthday contest for the chance to win a brand new house.

The big-hearted business today announced it is giving away a home worth up to £250,000 plus a further £138,000 in cash to charities across England, Wales and Scotland as part of its milestone birthday celebrations.

And Sales Director for Persimmon Homes Southern Tracey Lee is hoping good causes across Hampshire will get involved and that a charity from the area will go on to clinch the prize.

“Persimmon Homes currently completes around 10,000 homes every year across the UK and since the company was founded in 1972, we have built 200,000 homes for families and individuals, creating new communities across England, Wales and Scotland,” said Tracey.

“Today’s announcement is our way of giving back to these communities. In the first instance, we are asking charities with a turnover of no more than £10 million to tell us in 250 words or less why their charity deserves to win our brand new house. Supporters of charities can also nominate.

“This is a wonderful competition and I hope a deserving charity in this region goes on to win.”

The competition will see one lucky regional charity win a brand new three bedroom detached house with garage valued at £250,000. A further 23 runners up will each receive a £6,000 donation from Persimmon’s regional businesses.

Persimmon was founded in 1972 by current life president Duncan Davison and has grown to be one of the largest and most successful housebuilders in the UK over the last 40 years.

Persimmon consists of 24 regional businesses in England, Wales and Scotland. In the first round, each of the 24 companies will select a charity from their region to represent them in the national final, which will see the general public vote for the outright winner.

To enter the competition, charities and their supporters can make their nominations at www.persimmonhomes.com/40. The winning charity will be announced at a special Persimmon Homes birthday charity lunch in September 2012.

Persimmon recently announced a good start to its current financial year, reporting increases in both sales and orders against a backdrop of recovering demand.

Persimmon’s group chief executive Mike Farley said: “As a business we work hard and are proud to create homes for families and individuals while delivering a return for our shareholders. In this, our very special year, we are delighted to be giving something back to all the communities we have worked with in the last 40 years.”