HOUSEBUILDER Barratt Developments brought home a £227 million boost to the UK economy over the past year, it is claimed.

The group, which includes David Wilson Homes and Barratt Homes, built more than 1700 residences in Scotland in the year to June 2018.

Charting its footprint in Scotland, Barratt says it supported more than 3700 jobs and made £7 million in contributions to help create new facilities and infrastructure in established communities surrounding its new developments.

This includes highway and environmental works and more than 300 school places.

All but 1% of construction waste was recycled and more than 45,100 trees or shrubs were planted or retrained at its sites.

Douglas McLeod, regional managing director for Scotland at Barratt Developments, commented: “House building has the potential to positively impact many aspects of our society and economy. At Barratt, we are committed to realising that potential.”

McLeod, whose operation directly employed 50 new workers, went on: “Not only are we building homes to meet demand, we are helping to create and support jobs, generate economic value, build stronger communities and safeguard the environment.

“It is particularly pleasing to see that we now recycle nearly all of our construction waste from our sites in Scotland, an important measure of our standing as the nation’s leading sustainable housebuilder.”