A NORTH-EAST housebuilder has been awarded the highest rating for customer satisfaction.

Barratt Developments North East has received a five-star rating in the new Home Builders Federation customer satisfaction survey for 2017.

The housebuilder includes the Baratt and David Wilson brands, the latter is behind the Woodland Rise development on Hexham’s Corbridge Road.

More than 50,000 customers nationwide take part in the annual Home Builderss Federation survey. To earn a five-star rating, 90 per cent of customers must say they would recommend its homes to a friend.

This rating is Barratt Developments’ eighth consecutive five-star accreditation.

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said: “Achieving the highest levels of satisfaction is a huge challenge that requires commitment from everyone in an organisation from top to bottom.

“To do so whilst increasing output, as Barratt has done, to help address our acute housing shortage, is especially commendable.”

Fenton Hewitt, Sales Director at Barratt Homes North East said: “The customer recommendation scores come from building high quality homes and then really looking after our customers once they have moved in.

“Quality is so important to us and there are over 400 items that are individually checked before the keys to a Barratt home are handed over to a customer.”