Housebuilder set to cut more jobs

The Stewart Milne Group is a major Scottish employer

One of the country's biggest housebuilders is shedding more staff, BBC Scotland can reveal.

Aberdeen-based Stewart Milne Group has announced 44 redundancies across its business throughout the UK. A further 73 jobs are at risk of redundancy.

The company said it had been forced to act because of the continuing effect of the economic downturn on housing.

It had already announced earlier this year that it was having to cut almost 300 jobs.

'Reduced sales'

Managing director Glenn Allison said: "The housing market continues to be impacted significantly by the economic conditions.

"This has led to a reduced level of sales activity across our business. The measures announced today reflect the impact of the lower activity levels across the group."

The employees affected are said to come from a combination of divisions.

Stewart Milne Group was founded by Mr Milne in 1975 and has become one of the UK's leaders in the field.

Mr Milne became chairman of Aberdeen Football Club in 1997.