LEADING housebuilder Springfield Properties expects to see turnover and profits jump by 50% in its current financial year which began in June, as the housing market picks up in Scotland.

The Elgin-based group owned by chairman Sandy Adam, the current 'Scottish housebuilder of the year', saw sales accelerate in the first half of 2013, up by almost two-thirds on the previous half-year at £29 million.

Innes Smith, managing director, said reservations were double this time last year and three times their level two years ago.

"We are preparing for demand to increase again when the government backed 'help to buy' scheme is introduced next month," he added.

"In response to demand we opened four new sites last year and the extra work has swelled our workforce by over 100 people including eight apprentices."

Industry body Homes for Scotland yesterday urged the Scottish Government to speed up its help to buy scheme, claiming that whilst the property market in England may have turned a corner as a result of government policies, "this is clearly not the case north of the border where much still needs to be done".

Mr Smith said: "Judging by the figures in England, where builders are saying reservations are up 30%, it can't come soon enough in Scotland."

But he also warned that a spike in activity could create skill and resource shortages.

He said: "It is something that we as an industry need to address, to get as many young people trained up as possible.

"We have a higher percentage of our employees in the 50 to 65 age group than the 20 to 30 group."

Springfield's turnover had declined from £53m to £47m and pre-tax profits fell from £3.9m to £3.5m because of the boost in 2011/12 of its acquisition of Redrow's Scottish operations, which allowed the north-east builder to expand into the central belt.

In 2012/13 it handed over 300 homes, and is currently on 27 sites supporting up to 600 jobs including 300 directly employed.

Mr Smith said the current performance reflected gains in market share based on its 'customised home' offer to buyers.

Mr Adam said: "Sustained profitability and increasing demand mean we can buy more land, open more developments, build more homes and create more jobs.

"We are investing profits in buying land - five sites purchased in the year are being progressed through the planning system along with another 12 sites varying in size from 40 homes to 3000 homes."