A property developer headed by ex-Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburn has acquired Northern housebuilder Avant Homes. Yorkshire-based Berkeley DeVeer, of which Fairburn is ceo, is to take over the £500 million-turnover Avant Homes, supported by Elliott Advisors, an affiliate of fund manager Elliott Investment Management. Avant, which currently builds in the Midlands, Yorkshire, North East England and Scotland, delivers approximately 2,000 …