Barratt to open 14 new Scottish sites this year

Douglas McLeod

BARRATT Developments has confirmed plans to open 14 new sites creating 2,316 new homes across Scotland this year.

The housebuilder also revealed it will continue to increase its investment in land after acquiring and securing planning permission for new developments at seven new sites in the past six months.

Barratt’s workforce has grown 9% in the past year with plans to expand further. The firm explained it is looking to recruit more apprentices, graduates and ex-armed forces personnel than ever to create over 50 new jobs in Scotland to add to its 6,500-strong team, which includes both employees and contractors.

The company is also committed to increasing its use of offsite construction methods and reducing its carbon footprint. This will be enabled by further investment in timber frame technology at Selkirk-based Oregon Timber Frame Limited, which Barratt acquired in 2019.

In addition to its core brand, Barratt said it will also continue to focus on developing the David Wilson Homes business in Scotland, with further expansion planned into the north region at Countesswells, Findrassie and Elgin.

Douglas McLeod, regional MD for Barratt Developments in Scotland, said, “Every day on our sites across Scotland our experienced, skilled team are hard at work answering a demand for high quality, energy efficient, sustainable housing. With new housing follows plenty of new jobs and we are proud to recruit from and around the communities in which we are building.

“We know we are supporting local economies across Scotland by spending on local services and goods. As a business, the development of our talent is very close to our hearts and we want to hear from school leavers interested in apprenticeships, as well graduates and those looking for their next role.

“We are proud to say that many of our leaders responsible for managing and delivering multi-million pound housing developments started out as apprentices. Overall, we’re looking forward to a busy new financial year, boosted by a swift return to pre-Covid levels of productivity and growth.”

The 14 new developments include sites at Craigtoun, St Andrews, Mains Loan in Dundee and Newton Farm and Jackton Hall in South Lanarkshire.