News article 13/06/2013

(Issued 13 June 2013)

Home building industry body Homes for Scotland, which represents companies providing 95% of new homes built for sale as well as a significant proportion of affordable housing, has elected Jim Preston, Group Managing Director of Veitchi Group, as Chairman for the next 12 months.

Preston (48), who has been in construction and house building for the entire 28 years of his career, first joined the organisation’s Board five years ago and served as Vice Chair for the 2012-13 term.

A quantity surveyor by profession, his management roles have spanned commercial, technical, special projects, Managing Director and Group Managing Director / Chief Executive.

Having previously worked for such companies as Balfour Beatty Construction, CALA Homes, Persimmon Homes and Carronvale Group, his breadth of experience encompasses everything from the small private company to the large PLC, including multi-disciplined construction groups.

As well as leading the ongoing drive for a predictable and proportionate planning system which recognises the financial pressures facing builders, a key area of focus for Preston during his tenure will be continuing to ensure that the needs of smaller and medium sized home builders are fully represented as he believes this is where the impact of the downturn has been felt deepest in terms of funding.

Preston has also urged the Scottish Government to carefully consider the consequences of increasing energy standards on already highly efficient new homes, saying that it is wrong to make home building more expensive and home ownership less affordable at a time when 160,000 people are on waiting lists and housing output has slumped to its lowest level in 70 years