Cairn Homes is appointing James Benson as director of strategic delivery and policy. Mr Benson is joining the listed building group from the Irish House Builders’ Association (IHBA), where he is director of housing, planning and development. He will take up his new post in August.
He qualified as an engineer and quantity surveyor. Mr Benson spent several years surveying with contractors, before specialising in passive fire protection. He joined the IHBA in 2017.
The association is an affiliate of the Construction Industry Federation. It offers a range of services meant to support companies involved in residential building.
Michael Stanley, Cairn Homes chief executive, welcomed the appointment. “James joins Cairn having built an impressive reputation in the housing sector,” he said.
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He noted that Mr Benson’s experience with the IHBA included engaging with key industry interests, policy and the construction of new homes “across all tenures”.
Mr Stanley added that the appointment would further expand and strengthen the company’s expertise.
Cairn owns 37 development sites with capacity for about 17,700 homes. Last month, the company said it expected to sell about 1,600 newly built properties this year, mostly to first-time buyers, and earn profits of €100 million.
Mr Stanley indicated after its annual general meeting in May that social housing construction could play a greater part in Cairn’s business in the future. He said the company had been in talks with the State’s Land Development Agency and the housing association, Tuath.
