Barratt director striking out in east London

Managing director of Barratt East London, Alastair Baird, has little to worry about where the housing slump is concerned.<br/>

Managing director of Barratt East London, Alastair Baird, has little to worry about where the housing slump is concerned.

Barratt has recently begun work on an east London project from PKS Architects, which will see the company build 2,000 homes in Canada Water.

The development, near to east London's suave docklands area, has come at a time when most house builders are reporting falls in sales and reservations.

Speaking of the development Mr Baird said: "Maple Quays will transform Rotherhithe and grow into a major asset to the local community and the wider London economy."

House builder Persimmon today announced that since the beginning of the year it has had to cut 1,100 jobs, but Barratt executives appear to have found calm waters in an otherwise tumultuous year for the industry.

As well as housing the company is providing a new library, civic plaza, shops, a play area and green space through the development, partnered with the local authority of Southwark, and British Land Canada Quays.

Barratt is also reported to be waiting on planning permission for a second development to add to the site, including 186 apartments and 700 homes that would further buck the trend of low confidence in the sector.