NORTH-EAST housebuilder Barratt will create 600 jobs across the region in 2015 as construction bosses spoke of growing confidence in an industry ravaged by recession.

The Newcastle-founded company has launched a recruitment drive for bricklayers, electricians and landscapers to help build hundreds of new homes.

Mike Roberts, the firm's regional managing director, said: “Barratt Developments was born in the North-East so it is great to be able to give back to the local economy with this increase in jobs and investment.

“We think that demand for housing will continue to grow, particularly as the regional economy begins to get back to full strength, and we will continue to invest in local people to help us provide to high quality homes in the area.”

The jobs boost represents a 40 per cent jump in the workforce which will rise to 2,200 people this year as the firm presses ahead with plans to construct 628 North-East homes - compared to 457 in 2014.

Its plans reflected the upswing in the regional economy and the health of the local housing market, the firm said.

It came as York-based Persimmon, Britain's biggest housebuilder by market value, said it expected demand for new homes to remain robust this year despite uncertainty caused by the election in May.

The firm, which has offices in Bowburn, near Durham City, and Newcastle, reported a 23 per cent year-on-year rise in full-year revenue to £2.6bn, as it built 17 per cent more homes in 2014 than in the previous year.

"We're going into an election year, that does create a little bit of uncertainty but we anticipate to see good demand for the products we're producing," said chief executive, Jeff Fairburn. He added that forward sales stood at £973m at the end of 2014, 7 per cent higher than the same time last year.

The new Barratt roles will be across all disciplines from skilled construction jobs to head office support positions.

Barratt Developments, which encompasses Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has a number of high profile developments set to open in the coming months, including Mount Oswald in Durham, The Gateway in Gateshead and La Sagesse in Jesmond, Newcastle.