THE developer behind several new housing estates in South Lakeland and Eden has appointed a new production director.

Martin Leake will oversee construction of new homes in the North West for Story Homes, and brings more than 35 years of experience to the role.

The 52-year-old first joined the construction industry as an apprentice site manager, aged 16, and climbed the ladder to become site manager and construction manager for a number of house builders including Bellway and Elite Homes.

At Story Homes, Martin will head up the company's construction team of more than 50 people, including two production managers, site managers and assistants. He will also oversee around 100 sub-contractors working on developments such as Kendal's Ash Tree Park, Greengate Meadow at Levens village, and Orchard Place at Appleby.

"Story Homes has ambitious expansion plans and a fantastic reputation for producing great street scenes, excellent design and high-quality new homes," said Martin.

"They are a company with a clear set of values which I admire and I am delighted to join their Lancashire team.

"I was drawn to Story Homes’ portfolio of developments that are not only beautifully built, but also have five-star builder status.

"The opportunity to join Story Homes as production director was too good to miss. There wasn’t any other company I would have considered moving to!"

Martin's appointment comes as the company celebrates its 30th anniversary, and he is to play a pivotal role in constructing more than 350 homes across the North West in 2017/18.

Heather Churchman, the company's regional HR manager, said: “Martin joins us at a very busy and exciting time as we roll out our ambitious expansion plans across the North West. He brings a wealth of construction knowledge with him and we are delighted to benefit from this.

“As we continue our expansion, it’s important to ensure we have the right team that’s fully equipped with the appropriate leadership to help take Story Homes into its next chapter.”