New sales and marketing director Jo McLaren has moved from Savills, where she was head of new homes for Edinburgh and the East of Scotland to take up the post, and stresses that lockdown means people are giving increased thought to what they actually want in a home.

“Key drivers of the housing market going forward are much greater emphasis on having private outside space, zoned areas where you can combine working with cooking, dining and enjoying family time as well as areas to relax and unwind, with the availability of high-speed broadband to facilitate homeworking,” she said.

“This is a very exciting time in the property market which presents many opportunities to continue to deliver high quality homes to our customers. While the 2008 global financial crisis impacted our lives, it didn’t change how people lived, compared to the changes we have seen as a result of Covid-19. This has led to behavioural and lifestyle changes as people are re-evaluating what they want from their lives including how and where they wish to live and work.

“There is, for instance, greater demand emerging for divided rooms rather than open plan living. People need separation to work, children need it to study or play. There is a massive opportunity going forward to meet the new yearning for changing use of a house and the appetite for innovative eco-friendly solutions.”

Jo added: “The Inverness new housing market remains buoyant and there is a rising volume of new interest from people from outside the area, who are able to work from different locations and who see it as a city with plenty of green space and sustainable environment.

“It’s an exciting time in the sector, and Tulloch Homes is thinking ahead, while being able to deliver the sense of space and quality it has always delivered.

“The company’s emphasis is on offering the right product and specification going forward and I look forward to furthering my career by helping to drive the brand forward.”

Ms McLaren, who previously worked with Barratt East and Scotland-wide with Robertson Homes before joining Savills, brings wide experience and knowledge of new homes.

Tulloch Homes chief executive George Fraser said: ”We’re delighted to have been able bring Jo McLaren on board, to benefit from her expertise, fresh vision and new ideas.

“The aim is to bring a cutting edge to our sales and marketing campaigns at a time of major change for the housebuilding industry. We’ve entered our 96^th year, but as a significant employer on which the local sub-contract and supply chain is dependent, we remain dynamic and ready to make the most of the new challenges and opportunities.”

Tulloch’s previous sales director Lynne Boyd retired after 35 years with the company and now lives in Lanzarote.