The house builder is opening a new office in the Scottish capital’s Haymarket area as part of ambitious growth plan for its homes division.

This aims to deliver up to 5,000 new homes across the UK in the next three years, supported by a £225m finance facility from Bank of Scotland.

New developments in the region are expected to come on stream later this year after successful developments at Bonnyrigg, Prestonpans and Gorebridge.

Jonathan Fair, Managing Director of Stewart Milne Homes Central, will start recruiting his new team as projects take off.

Stewart Milne Group has more than 30 sites under development in Scotland and the North West of England with reservations already 25% ahead of forecast this year.

Its Homes division plans to launch more than 20 new developments in the next 18 months.

The group’s core homes and timber systems divisions generated an operating profit of £20.5m last year from a turnover of £205m resulting from a 10% increase in home sales.

Its landholding currently comprises 2,500 consented plots and a further 11,000 plots controlled under conditional contracts.

Fair said: “Our Homes division is well placed to capitalise on the increased demand for new homes which is why we see Edinburgh and the surrounding region playing a key role in our forward growth plans.”