Housebuilder Springfield Properties is to carry out its first development in Inverness after buying its first land in the city.
The acquisition at Easterfield Farm will be the site of a 14-acre development for around 90 homes. Springfield expects to begin selling the homes this year.
The Elgin-based, AIM-listed firm has also bought land in surrounding areas as part of a plan to expand into the Highlands and is considering plans for around 3,000 new homes in and around, Inverness and in villages including Ardersier, Drumnadrochit, Dornoch and Beauly.
Springfield chief executive Innes Smith said: “We expect to start selling homes at Easterfield later this year. The development, which is near to Drummossie Hotel, the University of the Highlands and Islands, Inshes Retail Park and just 15 minutes from Inverness Airport, will include of mix of private and affordable high-quality homes.
“We have grown Springfield by focusing on customers and on geographic expansion across Scotland. This approach is successful for us. Springfield started as a small developer in Moray. We now have three great brands operating across Scotland, have listed on the AIM market and have 750 employees and hundreds of sub-contractors building around 1,000 homes this year.”
Springfield has been expanding rapidly with the takeover of Walker Homes’ Scottish business for £31 million in February and and central belt-focussed Dawn Homes last year.
Smith said: “In recent years, we’ve developed a stronger presence in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and we are already highly active in Dundee and Perth. Now we are in a position to include Inverness in our portfolio, which is the next step for our growth.
“Inverness is a great city, rich in history, and spoilt with some of Scotland’s best scenery right on its doorstep. It’s the gateway to the Highlands, with plenty of employment opportunities, and we are looking forward to working with the council to deliver great quality homes in the area.”
