SPRINGFIELD Properties has won planning permission to build 1,700 homes across Scotland amid what it described as buoyant housing market conditions in the country.

The family-owned firm is also seeking permission to build a further 2,000 homes in a move that signals confidence in the long term prospects for the market.

The company’s chairman Sandy Adam said: “Conditions in the Scottish construction and housing sectors are good at present, with demand for high quality affordable family homes continuing to increase.”

Springfield has launched a major push for growth as it looks to capitalise on favourable conditions in the markets for home for private owners and social housing.

The company said its developments are designed to appeal to people operating on a range of budgets.

Noting that the Scottish Government has budgeted to provide £3 billion over the next five years to help meet the need for social housing, it added: “At Springfield, we are actively procuring land and establishing relationships with various housing associations and councils to help address this need.”

Springfield was established in Elgin in 1956 and has expanded from its heartland in north-east Scotland into the central belt in recent years.

The company has won permission to build a total of 1700 homes on 13 sites stretching from Dornoch, north of Inverness, to Edinburgh.

The biggest development, of 1061 homes, will be at Bertha Park, Perth.

The company has permission to build 1,100 homes for private ownership in total and 608 classed as affordable housing.

Springfield built 510 homes during the year to May 2015.

It bought Redrow's Scottish operation for £49m in 2011.