EXCLUSIVE: Developer to pull out of Tornagrain housing development
A & J Stephen (Builders) Ltd have decided to focus on projects closer to their Perth base
Last updated 21st Jul 2022
One of the builders involved with a major Inverness-shire housing development are to leave the project.
A & J Stephen (Builders) Ltd have been building homes at Tornagrain since 2017, alongside fellow developers Zero-C.
Due to a lack of labour locally, they have decided to focus on sites closer to their Perth base.
Overseeing the Tornagrain development, Moray Estates say they are grateful to A & J Stephen for helping them get the project going and will soon begin trying to find a replacement.
Lack of Labour in Inverness area forced move
A & J Stephen are expected to leave Tornagrain at the end of this year.
They say they would like to return to the development in the future.
A spokesperson said: "For the time being, we have decided to build out our current phase at Tornagrain and thereafter to concentrate on sites closer to our Perth base.
"This decision has been driven by the availability of labour within the Inverness area.
"Tornagrain is an extremely exciting project which we hope to return in due course."
Moray Estates say any impact on the overall Tornagrain development will be small.
A spokesman said: "We’ve enjoyed working with A & J Stephen, are grateful for their input in getting Tornagrain going and wish them well going forward.
"We will shortly commence a process for identifying a replacement (for A & J Stephen) developer at Tornagrain.
"We expect any impact to be small based on the plans of the other existing developer on site, Places for People, and discussions already underway with another developer."
Shortage of workers across UK
National Federation of Builders Head of housing and planning policy, Rico Wojtulewicz, says labour issues are being felt across the country.
He said: "Lack of labour across the UK is a real challenge.
"Shortage of bricklayers, carpenters, site managers and anything you can think of.
"Especially if you’re in the more rural communities or perhaps not in the bigger cities.
"Seven in ten construction apprentices are trained by small or medium sized businesses and they make up 90% of the training capacity.
"As they moved out of the market and their market share shrunk, you do then train fewer people.
"Schools and parents have a huge part to play here.
"The construction industry is an incredible sector to work in.
"It’s not just working outdoors. Academies need to really grasp that and train people up and not just say 'go to University'."
Under Moray Estates' plans, Tornagrain is set to see its population increase to more than 10,000 people within 40 years.
5,000 homes are set to be built as part of the project.
It was recently reported the final brick had been laid on the development's 250th home.