A HOUSING developer has announced a £30m regeneration programme which will involve 450 homes being built and also safeguard thousands of jobs.

Broseley Homes, of Sunderland, will build the homes at six sites in Wearside, Tyneside and north-east Durham.

As well as meeting a need for affordable housing identified by Newcastle University, the firm's investment will directly create or safeguard at least 1,500 jobs and indirectly assist a further 6,000.

Ed Alder, land director for Broseley Homes, said: "We have expanded very quickly since we first started operating in 1999, but this year our development programme will enter a new dimension.

"We are currently developing at seven sites, but this year that will double.

"New sites have been acquired in recent months, but we are still on the lookout for more land, and I would love to hear from anyone who has anything to offer us."

Broseley Homes has started work on 45 properties at Queen's Park, in Gateshead, 53 at Castleside, Consett, and 22 at Deneside, Bishop Auckland.

In the coming weeks, they will be followed by a further 53 at Greenfield, Bishop Auckland, 18 at Shildon and 253 on the former Havelock Hospital site, in Pennywell, Sunderland.

Mr Alder said: "At every one of our developments we will be building a range of two, three and four bedroom homes, featuring at least ten distinctive house styles.

"We will be trying to maintain prices within the £48,000 to £80,000 price range, so that a good quality home can be within the reach of as many people as possible."

Mr Alder said one of the main reasons for the firm's success was its willingness to develop difficult sites.