By Karen Peattie

HOUSEBUILDER Bellway, which last month said its strongest market is in Scotland as it posted soaring annual profits, has acquired a second parcel of land in Renfrewshire as it develops its presence across the central belt.

Bellway Homes Ltd (Scotland West) has plans to build 172 homes on a 14.9-acre site close to the new primary school in the village of Dargavel, near Bishopton. Properties will include two-bedroom apartments, and three, four and five-bedroom semi-detached and detached homes.

This new phase follows its original Dargavel Village development of 177 homes off Slateford Road in the “commuter hotspot”.

Fraser Conn, regional director for Bellway Homes Ltd (Scotland West), said: “Since we started building there in 2018, the whole area has been transformed from abandoned land into a vibrant community with shops, a new school and fantastic transport links.”

The new development will form part of the larger regeneration of BAE Systems’ old Royal Ordinance Factory, which will see up to 4,000 new homes in total being built.

On completion, Dargavel Village will also comprise commercial and community buildings, a woodland park, and recreational facilities. It is named after Dargavel House, a Grade B-listed tower house situated within the grounds of the BAE complex, which has parts dating back to 1514.

Mr Conn noted: “Despite the pandemic, demand remains strong in Scotland and we have plans for new developments we will be announcing in the near future.”

The builder has current developments in Helensburgh, Hamilton, Glasgow, Kilmarnock, East Kilbride, Barrhead, Livingston and Thornliebank.

Newcastle-based Bellway Homes posted a 102.4 per cent jump in pre-tax profits to £479 million for the year to July 31 as revenues surged 40.3% to £3.12 billion. On an underlying basis, profits rose 71.6% to £530.8m.