Housebuilder Cala Group has launched its new division, Cala Southern, as part of the group’s growth strategy in the South of England.
Cala Southern will lead Cala group’s westward expansion, increasing its presence in Dorset, Hampshire and Southern Wiltshire.
It will also manage its existing live sites in Winchester, Wimborne and Fordingbridge, previously overseen by Cala Thames.
Last September, Legal & General agreed the sale CALA Group to US investment firm Sixth Street Partners and real estate investor Patron Capital for £1.35 billion.
Cala was founded in Aberdeen in 1875, with Legal & General Capital acquiring full ownership of CALA Homes in May 2018.
The housebuilder aims to construct 3,000 new homes annually throughout Scotland, the Cotswolds, and the South East of England.
Cala Southern will be led by incoming managing director Rod Martin and plans deliver 400 homes in its first year, and increase to more than 500 homes annually by 2028.
CALA’s latest financial results for the year ended 31 December 2023 showed turnover fell to £1.26 billion from £1.35 billion the previous year, with 2,917 homes sold compared to 3,027 in 2022, generating a pre-tax profit of £112.3 million.
The Southern HQ will open in Winchester in March, with 90 new direct roles so far.
CEO, Kevin Whitaker, said: “The expertise within our team and success of our high-quality, sustainable homes across England, have given us the confidence to invest in Cala Southern.”
“Cala is well-positioned to achieve our goal of building more than 4,000 homes by 2029, across the Group.
“Aligned with this ambition, our teams throughout the UK are proactively looking to invest in sites with and without planning permission, for both short-term and future development.
“They have the skill and financial backing to unlock potential across the full range of planning and development opportunities.”
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