Homes For Scotland, the representative body for the home building industry in Scotland, has elected Andrew Mickel, Director of Mactaggart & Mickel as new Chairman for the year 2008/9.

He assumed his new role at the organisation's annual meeting in Edinburgh on May 9 2008 and Annual Lunch, attended by 750 senior industry representatives and Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell.

In his inaugural speech Andrew Mickel said the continuing aim of the industry is to encourage excellence and improve the quality of living in Scotland through the provision of modern homes in places people want to live.

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"It is my belief that our industry can deliver the Scottish Government's aspirations and work with them to build 35,000 homes a year, meet higher environmental standards, offer more choice that is affordable, and create sustainable mixed communities.

"This is done in interesting times - rising costs, market consolidation, new entrants to the market and despite any short-term tremors and less mortgages available, we are very confident about the long-term stability of the Scottish Housing Market," He added.

Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said Scotland can and should have a prosperous sustainable future: "The drive for these new homes to be of a high standard, energy efficient and well designed, lies at the heart of the Government's housing policy and I welcome Homes for Scotland's work to improve standards in the industry."

(GK/JM)