Housebuilder Barratt cuts 60 jobs in Chester

Jul 3 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

TROUBLED housebuilder Barratt is to close its Chester operation with the loss of 60 jobs.

The company, which is struggling with a slump in sales of new homes, is closing the office in the city as part of a nationwide restructuring plan that will see around 1,000 jobs lost.

The firm is in consultation with employees over the cutbacks among the group’s 6,700 staff under an overhaul of the business which will see regional offices in Chester and Sheffield closed.

The news comes a day after rival Taylor Wimpey announced plans to shed 900 staff and close 13 offices.

The job cuts will fall on building sites and in sales, administration and support as the firm shrinks the business to meet the tougher market conditions.

A Barratt spokesman told LDP Business: “We need to carefully manage our overheads in what has become a very tough market.

“We are engaging in a full consultation process with our staff and we want to ensure we retain core skills within the business.”