HASLAM Homes has confirmed record results for the first two months of this financial year.

With 11 sites across the region and a further four due to open this year, the housebuilder from Team Valley, in Gateshead, is celebrating one of its best years since coming to the region in 1995.

Already this year, reservations are up by 30 per cent on the same time last year, and sales targets for 2001/02 confirm the strength of the housing market.

Mike Pattison, regional managing director, said: "We have had a fantastic start to the year and I am confident that this will continue.

"Despite some bad press, the housing market is particularly buoyant at the moment and house prices are reflecting this."

He said: "We are currently in the process of acquiring five new sites in a variety of locations across the North-East and expect to unveil plans for these later this year. The sites will accommodate the growing demand for Haslam Homes, as one of the remaining traditional housebuilders in the North-East."

Haslam Homes has commissioned a team of designers to revamp its branding in line with its growing reputation for high quality, high specification homes. This will be used on all new developments across the region.

Haslam's success in the last five years has also contributed to the regeneration of inner city areas in the region.

The company builds 85 per cent of its housing on brownfield sites, most notably Consett Ironworks, the former Jewson Saw Mill, in Dunston, Gateshead, and the Cleveland Bridge Works, in Darlington.