BUILDING contracts worth £1.7m have been handed out to North-East construction firms by the Nomad Housing Group.

The new developments in Gateshead will be completed in the next 18 months, providing 31 new bungalows for rent and a young person's centre.

A £900,000 contract for 15 two-bedroom bungalows in Winlaton has been awarded to Roderick Brown Construction of Houghton-le-Spring.

The scheme, due for completion by the end of the year, is the first new housing to be built as part of Gateshead Council's regeneration of the Bleach Green Estate.

An £800,000 contract for 16 bungalows in Wrenkenton has been awarded to Kendall Cross Holdings Ltd of Ponteland. It is due for completion in January next year.

David Pound, Nomad's contracts supervisor, said: "We're delighted to be working with a range of locally based contractors in these projects.

"All three companies have completed projects for Nomad in the past and their quality of work is well proven.