Hargreaves Services Plc has announced the appointment of David Anderson as group property director to drive forward the development of its property business, Hargreaves Land.

The senior appointment forms a strategic part of Hargreaves’ repositioning strategy to diversify away from coal and heavy industry into new sectors which provide better long-term prospects.

Anderson will join the firm no later than December 1 and lead Hargreaves Land in bringing forward developments and unlocking value from the group’s 17,500-acre land bank, which is valued in excess of £50 million.

Hargreaves Services plc, which has offices in Lanark & Edinburgh delivers key projects and services in the infrastructure, energy and property sectors. The company’s UK-wide land portfolio includes over 50 sites ranging from former coal mines undergoing remediation, through to prime consented sites ready for development.

David Anderson has served as a director of Henry Boot Developments Limited, the principal property development subsidiary of Henry Boot PLC, since 1996 and as managing director since 2005. He has led the growth in revenue of that business from less than £10m in 2005 to over £220m in 2017.

David Anderson said: “I am very pleased to be joining Hargreaves at such an exciting time for the group’s future as the board looks to develop and grow its property business. I look forward to leading the Hargreaves Land team to create a substantial business within the group.”

Hargreaves’ key sites include the 390-acre Blindwells scheme located in East Lothian near Edinburgh, where planning consent has been secured for 1,600 new homes. At Westfield in Fife, over 1,000 acres have been earmarked for energy, waste recovery and employment uses.

Gordon Banham, chief executive of Hargreaves Services plc, said: “I am delighted we have secured the services of David Anderson to spearhead Hargreaves Land. David has an excellent and successful record in the property development sector in the UK and Hargreaves’ current land portfolio provides a strong platform from which to create substantial shareholder value.”

In recent years the firm has been building a property team as its strategy evolves to reflect the changing market. Recent appointments include a new head of asset management, a project manager and financial controller, taking the team to 15 full time members of staff.