HOUSEBUILDER Haslam Homes plans to invest a further £4m in the region, following one of its most successful years to date.

The housebuilder, which opened a regional base in the Team Valley in Gateshead in 1995, will invest £4m in new housing developments, including work on a number of regeneration programmes.

At least £2m of the money will be spent in the Durham area as part of the Durham Villages Regeneration Company, formed by Haslam parent company Keepmoat and Durham City Council to help regenerate former mining areas.

Haslam is already building new homes in Newton Aycliffe, but will announce further locations as the land becomes available.

The investment will also be good news for jobs in the region.

A spokesman for Doncaster-based Haslam, said: "While the new housing developments will help maintain current levels of employment, new jobs are also expected to be created, but it is still too early to say exactly how many."

Despite a turbulent housing market, Haslam celebrated great success last year with sales up 23 per cent with many developments selling out before a brick was laid.

Mike Croft, regional managing director for Haslam, said: "We had a great 2001 and anticipate an even better 2002.

"The housing market in this region is experiencing a boom and I am confident that there will be very little change over the next few months."

Mr Croft said Haslam would make it a priority to work alongside other housebuilders in the region and, in particular, housing associations to provide housing solutions across the region.

He said: "These partnerships ensure a good mix of housing as well as facilities which the whole community will benefit from. We are delighted to announce this significant investment for 2002, and our new housing projects will continue to confirm our commitment to brownfield regeneration as well as economic regeneration of the region as a whole.

"We are currently on the look out for more land which will compliment this investment and ensure that we provide housing developments in some of the most sought after locations in the region."