A LOCAL housebuilder is celebrating after its newest accolade.

Barratt Developments North East has received the maximum 5 star rating in the Home Builders Federation (HBF) annual New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey for 12 consecutive years.

The number of stars awarded is based on customer responses to the question "would you recommend your builder to a friend?" - with over 90 per cent of respondents recommending the company.

This is the twelfth year in a row that Barratt Developments has achieved the 5 star rating – a record unmatched by any other major, national housebuilder.

It comes on the back of its recent Supreme Win at the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards, where site manager Kirk Raine scooped the top award out of a possible 11,000 site managers across the country, marking a fifth Supreme win in six years. Local site manager Mark Summersgill was also awarded the prestigious title of ‘national runner up’ on the back of his previous successes, winning his sixth Pride in the Job Quality award, a Seal of Excellence award and Regional Award, as well as achieving the 2019 Large Builder Supreme Award.

The HBF New Homes Survey is one of the largest surveys of its kind in the country and is completed by nearly 50,000 people who have recently bought a new build home.

Executive chairman of the HBF Stewart Baseley said: “The survey demonstrates that the industry is delivering an excellent level of service in the opinion of over 90 per cent of its customers.

"The fact that we have seen four successive years of improved satisfaction levels shows the clear focus builders have been putting on the customer. That this level of satisfaction has been delivered during a pandemic, that saw sites closed and builders unable to access homes for a period, makes it even more of an achievement.

"To achieve a 5 star rating, meaning that at least 90 per cent of your customers would recommend you, is a fantastic achievement that requires commitment from everyone within the organisation.”

Carl Sobolewski, managing director at Barratt Developments North East, added: “We’re incredibly proud to have been announced a five star housebuilder for a record 12 years in a row, as well as Mark’s recent national success right here in the North-East.

"We work hard to look after our customers, both before and after they buy their new homes, so it’s great to know that our customers rate us so highly, and that so many of them would recommend us to a friend. We will continue to give all of our customers a 5 star service.”