A UTILITIES firm has promised new jobs and “further growth and improvement” after securing a deal for a County Durham affordable housing developer.

The Fastflow Group has bought Spennymoor-based Partner Group for an undisclosed sum.

Bosses at Fastflow, headquartered in Washington, Wearside, say the agreement will help both companies extend their presence across the new build sector.

The deal comes after Fastflow, which provides maintenance services across the water, gas and social housing sectors, last year secured financial backing from London’s Elysian Capital to kickstart an expansion plan.

Chief executive Neil Armstrong, who founded the company in 2005 after buying Fastflow Pipeline Services from Northumbrian Water, confirmed the business will create jobs in the tie-up.

He added: “With our support, Partner can increase its service offer with additional capacity for new housing, backed by high-quality, focused, maintenance and repair programmes.”

Partner’s developments include The Acorns, a 70-home estate in Spennymoor, and a 66-plot site in Darlington’s Alexander Street.