CONSTRUCTION group MMP has been shortlisted for the final of a Government competition to build a house for £60,000.

Metek, the housing operation of the MMP Group, is part of two consortiums that have been shortlisted.

Only nine organisations out of 130 have reached the final stage of the competition.

The brief for the contest was to design for manufacture, quality and affordable housing, to be built on one of ten sites.

Metek offered off-site construction at its factory, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Metek is part of the George Wimpey and Northern Edge bids, which will be submitted today. The winner will be annnounced at the end of the month.

If either entry is successful, 30 jobs will be created at Metek.

Managing director Dr Alan Rogan said: "Getting this far in the competition illustrates how our system offers an established solution for meeting the needs of affordable housing. By manufacturing some, or all of a housing structure, you can reduce the time spent on site, reduce the need for costly call backs and, more importantly, reduce the cost of the development."