BARRATT has announced plans to build 3,400 homes at 16 sites in Scotland during 2019.

The new sites will underpin over 6,200 existing jobs and support around 150 new jobs, it said.

The housebuilder also said it will continue to increase its investment in land as it looks to acquire and develop up to 18 new sites over in the year ahead.

Barratt Developments, which includes the Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes brands, said the plans “underline the group’s confidence in the fundamentals of investing and building in Scotland, including continued demand for new homes, changing demographics and a strong economic outlook”.

Estimates from Homes for Scotland have suggested that 465,000 new homes will be required by 2035 to meet a growing housing need.

New developments to be launched in early this year include Yew Gardens in Ormiston, East Lothian and Huntingtower in Perth.

Douglas McLeod, regional managing director for Barratt Developments in Scotland, said: “Although there are clearly some consumer concerns around the potential impact of Brexit, we’re confident that the economic fundamentals remain favourable towards house building.”

Meanwhile, the housing team at law firm Harper Macleod has seen the overall tally for Scottish housing association funding deals it has advised on in the current financial year now approaching £500 million.

In February the firm advised on and completed private placement investment deals for Cunninghame and Queens Cross associations worth a total of £70m alone, it said