A LOCAL housebuilder has recorded a solid performance for the year - albeit in a pandemic.

Barratt Developments North-East offered a 'resilient performance' and maintained their strong financial position, despite Covid-19 and the lockdown period significantly reducing completion volumes, increasing costs and impacting profits.

Carl Sobolewski, managing director at Barratt Developments North-East, said: "Barratt Developments North-East has continued to deliver a solid performance during 2020 and we are really pleased to see positive year end results.

"Our priority has been focused on keeping our customers and employees safe during Covid-19, and despite the effects of the pandemic, all of our sites are now operational and we are seeing a strong consumer demand as we enter the new financial year.

"Alongside this, we will be focusing on supporting economic growth, as well as creating new jobs across the region by building much-needed housing.

"It’s really positive to have retained our HBF five-star accreditation for the eleventh consecutive year, which has helped us continue to attract good customer demand for high quality, new homes across the North-East region.

"In addition to this, we are also proud to see that six of our site managers have been awarded with a national Pride in the Job award from the National House Building Council (NHBC) - this is the highest accolade that a UK site manager can achieve and to win more of these awards than any other housebuilder for 16 years in a row is a real point of difference, and I hope it shows how committed we are to building the highest quality homes for our customers."