REGIONAL house builder Orchard Homes has made a number of key appointments and promotions.

The strategy by Southampton-based Orchard Homes follows recent expansion into Dorset and reflects its position as a major regional homebuilder. Construction manager Jim Bain has been given responsibility for setting up sites and overseeing them from the planning stage to the build process, taking over these roles from co-founding director Nick Eagle.

Jim has 27 years' knowledge in the construction industry, three of those with Orchard. Shaun Manley has been appointed head of procurement and has taken on extra roles including responsibility for budgets and overall control for sub-contractors and materials. Aaron Blyth who has an HNC and ONC in the Built Environment (Building Studies) has joined from a national homebuilder as a buyer and has been given immediate responsibility for four projects. Adam Smith, who has been with Orchard for two years, has taken on more responsibilities within the procurement department and completes a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in the Built Environment (Building Studies) this summer. Daryl

Holmes has taken up the role of contracts manager overseeing day-to-day construction issues including production output, quality control, health and safety and technical matters. With more than 20 years' industry experience he is also providing guidance on systems organisation.

Charlie Goodall, who has been with Orchard for two years, has evolved from sub-contracts buyer to the technical manager with responsibility for ensuring all buildings are compatible with new regulations.

This month saw Orchard begin work on transforming the former Lamp & Mantle pub in West End, into 34 luxury apartments, seven executive detached houses in Bassett, 12 apartments in Romsey and the opening of a new show home at Banister Court in Southampton.