A housing market expert from Dundee has been appointed to lead Scotland’s nationwide network of solicitors’ property centres.
Peter Ryder has succeeded Edinburgh-based Malcolm Cannon as the new chairman of SPC Scotland, the umbrella group representing the 11 centres around the country.
The network co-ordinates and oversees thousand of property deals across Scotland each year, with total transaction values amounting to several billion pounds per annum.
Mr Ryder has spent the past three years as manager at Tayside Solicitors Property Centre (TSPC) in Dundee’s Whitehall Crescent and will combine his new responsibilities with his current role.
The 47-year-old who has previously held the post of vice-chairman of the organisation said there were signs of an upturn in the property market in Scotland after a long period in the doldrums.
He said it was his aim in his new role to help shape a sustainable recovery.
“I am delighted and honoured to take up the position as SPC Scotland chairperson,” Mr Ryder said. “This is a major player in the property scene the length and breadth of Scotland, with member legal firms responsible for property sales worth over £2 billion in the first six months of the year alone, with nearly 12,000 homes changing hands during that period.
“At a time when the Scottish market is showing promising signs of recovery these figures are extremely impressive and reinforce the vital role solicitors play in the selling of property throughout the country.
“All the property centres which are part of the SPC Scotland network are reporting an upturn in business over the last three months.
“Some properties are selling within four weeks of going on to the market, and closing dates are now beginning to reappear.
“The general mood throughout Scotland appears to be more optimistic, with the hope that the recent improvements will continue throughout the rest of 2013.”
Mr Ryder who spent 20 years in senior business development roles with Halifax and who served as a director with Tayside legal firm Blackadders between 2006 and 2009 is the first Dundee- based chairman since Torquil Burns, a partner in the solicitors practice which was then known as Burns, Veal & Gillan, in the 1990s.
Douglas Kinnear, of St Andrews-based Murray Donald solicitors and estate agents, has also previously represented the north east in the high-profile role.