The Stonehouse brand, part of the fast-growing Lomond Group, is rebranding to DJ Alexander to unify all the firms’ offices across Scotland.

Stonehouse, which has been operating in the letting sector for almost 30 years, recently launched a sales division. The rebrand to DJ Alexander, is part of Lomond’s strategy to simplify the group’s national profile.

The decision to rebrand Stonehouse comes as the agency opens a new Aberdeenshire office in Peterhead to serve what Lomond anticipate will be an upsurge in rental demand in the coming year.

The new Peterhead office has opened in anticipation of an influx of people to the area to work on the Acorn project three miles outside the town. Acorn CCS, located near the St Fergus oil terminal, and Viking CCS on Humberside will be carbon capture hubs and are part of a £1bn Westminster government investment which will create an estimated 21,000 jobs by 2030.

Aileen Merchant, who is head of DJ Alexander’s offices in Aberdeenshire, said: “The new Peterhead office is an excellent opportunity to provide properties for the anticipated arrival of thousands of highly skilled workers into the area. We believe that the Acorn project will attract people from across the UK many of whom will require rental properties.”

“We have extensive experience of providing quality properties in the area and we believe that this will provide a fantastic opportunity for our firm to ensure that people who come to the town will find a welcoming home. There has also been considerable landlord and property investor interest in buying into the area in anticipation of very high demand in the area.”

“The rental market in the north-east has been booming for several years and I believe that with the uptick in activity in the oil and gas industry this will continue for many years to come. After years of uncertainty over the future of the oil and gas industry Aberdeen and the surrounding areas now see a strong future for the area as projects like Acorn and the development of the Rosebank oilfield will guarantee work for the next decade.”

David Alexander, chief executive of DJ Alexander Ltd, added: “Our offices in Aberdeen and the surrounding area have been providing an excellent service for years and our new opening in Peterhead is an indication of our commitment to the area now and in the future.

“Aileen and her team have the expertise and the determination to ensure that this influx of workers at the Acorn project will find good quality homes. We see this expansion as an ideal opportunity to serve the communities in Aberdeen and the north-east and we look forward to further growth in the future.”