Springfield and Barratt have agreed to jointly develop a new village comprising 3,000 homes on the outskirts of Stirling. Springfield, Scotland’s only listed housebuilder, has driven the Durieshill project through design and planning stages and will now partner with Barratt, the UK’s largest housebuilder, to bring the development to life.

The Durieshill village, spanning nearly 600 acres, is one of Scotland’s largest approved planning applications for housing and community infrastructure, with a gross development value of approximately £776 million. Initial groundworks are set to begin in late 2024.

Barratt will lead the provision of infrastructure, including upgrades to roads, electrical supply works, and sewage systems. The agreement includes an initial land sale to Barratt, with further sales contingent on reaching key development milestones tied to infrastructure investment.

Innes Smith, chief executive of Springfield Properties, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are delighted to collaborate with Barratt on this exciting project at Durieshill. Our shared values and goals in constructing quality homes and fostering sustainable communities, combined with Barratt’s five-star reputation, will offer customers increased choice and accelerate delivery in this premier development.”

Smith highlighted the broader impact of the project, noting, “Durieshill is more than just housing – it’s a place where people will live and work. The development of the village will inject significant investment into the local economy, making a huge contribution to the area with employment and apprenticeship opportunities in the hundreds. This village has been a vision of Stirling Council for over 20 years. We have worked closely with them to design a place that meets the wider requirements of the city and thank those who have helped drive this project.”

This announcement follows another deal by Springfield earlier this week, where the firm signed a £6.3 million delivery contract with the Wheatley Group, focusing on affordable housing. A trading update in February showed a decline in income and profit for Springfield in the six months to November 2023, reflecting ongoing challenges in the housing market.