Housebuilder Persimmon Homes says two new Aberdeen housing developments will create nearly 200 city jobs.
The firm has started work on its first Granite City development in eight years and is hoping to have another two new sites by the end of the year.
North managing director James MacKay revealed £92m worth of investment is being spent between its Strabathie site in Blackdog and the former AECC site in Bridge of Don which is currently going through planning.
Persimmon has just started work at its Strabathie Village development in Blackdog where 120 homes will be constructed.
‘Long-term investment in Aberdeen’
Planning permission is currently in for 333 homes at the Bridge of Don site which is located just behind the former AECC building, where the auditorium and overspill car parks once were.
Mr MacKay said: “We expect there’ll be about 80 jobs created by Strabathie.
“On our other site, which is currently going through planning we anticipate that’ll create 125 jobs.
“Our total site investment at Strabathie is £24m and at the former exhibition site in Bridge of Don it is £68m.
“And there’s a further pipeline and development plan beyond that as well.
“What I would say is that we’re not doing this as a kind of just a toe in the water, one development or two.
“We are expecting to be live on three to four developments by the end of this year.
“And the expectation is, subject to seeing how the market performs, we would expect that this is going to be the first tranche of sites of probably more to follow through 2026.
“We do expect to be making a long-term investment in Aberdeen and be able to set down routes there.”
Persimmon Homes to establish roots in Aberdeen
Mr MacKay, who has been north managing director for five years, believes now is the right time for the firm to make its move back into Aberdeen.
He said: “We have operated in Aberdeen historically and the last time was probably 2017.
“It was always intended we would be in the Aberdeen market but a combination of some internal operational matters and timing didn’t see it happen.
“It was also when the oil sector had the decline, and that obviously created a bit of a constraint in the housing market.
“So, it’s always been a real stride for us to get back into Aberdeen, and I think now’s a good time to do that and get the investment back in.
“Over the last 18 months, we’ve been identifying development sites, and we’re looking to make that move.”
Opportunities for local supply chain
As well as creating new jobs Persimmon Homes is also looking to work with local companies for its developments.
Mr Mackay, who has worked for Persimmon Homes for 14 years, also revealed there will be an opportunity for apprenticeships.
He said: “We’ve got the biggest apprenticeship programme in Scotland, and that’s something we are very passionate about.
“It’s absolutely my intention we will be committing to some apprenticeships in Aberdeen to try and build up our pipeline of talent there.
“We’re very mindful Aberdeen’s got a really strong workforce, a really strong supply chain, and as part of our market entry have really been trying to tap into that and reach out to those already established in the supply chain and build those relationships.”
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