Housebuilder Barratt Developments has delivered a £319 million boost to the UK economy over the past year, according to a new report from the firm.

During the 12 months ending 30th June 2016, the group, which includes both Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has built over 1,550 new homes in Scotland and supported around 5,900 jobs. As part of its housebuilding activity, Barratt has made £12.7m in local contributions to help build new local facilities and infrastructure in communities surrounding its new developments.

The achievements are highlighted in Barratt Scotland’s latest Social Economic Footprint report which measures the housebuilder’s social and economic contribution to Scotland over the past year. Included within the report are key measures relating to the company’s support for the housebuilding supply chain, local communities, environment, public services and employment.

Highlights include:

Douglas McLeod, regional director for Scotland at Barratt Developments, said: “The past year has been extremely busy for Barratt Developments in Scotland, and our socio-economic footprint reflects that level of activity. By building over 1,550 new homes, we have helped more people onto the property ladder, supported employment and skills development and boosted Scotland’s supply chain networks.

“However, it’s not just about building homes, it’s also about building communities and behaving as good corporate citizens. Through our local contributions, we have been able to provide more funds for local services such as education and leisure facilities.

“As responsible stewards of our environment, we have also demonstrated a commitment to sustainable housebuilding practices including site recycling, tree planting and waste reduction measures.”

The report on Barratt’s Socio-Economic Footprint in 2016 was carried out by planning consultant Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners.