Thousands of new construction and sales jobs will be created this year by a leading housebuilder which plans to develop 11 new sites in West Yorkshire as the Government’s Help to Buy Scheme continues to fuel demand for homes.

New sites will include one in Otley and, in total, Barratt Homes has announced plans for 23 new sites across the Yorkshire region, creating more than 2,500 jobs. Barratt uses local sub-contractors and tradesmen who will also benefit from its expansion plans.

Sam Wood, Barratt Yorkshire West sales director, said: “The Prime Minister has said again and again that one of the best ways to boost economic growth and get people working is through building more homes.

“The plans we have announced show exactly how that theory works in practice. We expect to launch 11 new sites this year. These will provide 1,260 desperately-needed new homes for local people at a time when there is a chronic shortage of housing.

“In addition to the local construction jobs underpinned in building the new homes, the local people who move into the new housing will also spend their wages locally. This translates into a significant boost for local retailers at a time when concerns remain about the national financial picture. It’s exactly what this area needs.”

Parent group Barratt Developments said in a trading update for the six months to December 31, 2013, house completions, including joint ventures, rose by 19.3 per cent during the period.

The Help to Buy scheme boosted demand for new homes, particularly by supporting first-time buyers, and was used in 29 per cent of house sales.

Mark Clare, group chief executive, said: “As a result of the continued recovery of the housing market across all regions and our £3.1 billion investment in new land over the last four years, we have been able to increase materially the number of new homes being built and our profitability.”

The average selling price of Barratt homes rose by 11.4 per cent to £225,000 from £201,900 a year earlier.

Meanwhile, work has started on a new housing development on a 4.5 acre site at Springhead Mills in Guiseley designed by Skipton architects Bowman Riley. Evans Property Group and housebuilder Shepherd Homes have formed a joint venture to develop 54 family homes.

Alan Syers, Evans Property Group portfolio director, said: “We are delighted that the development at Springhead Mills is progressing.

“The development meets a demand to provide more spacious family homes in the heart of Guiseley and reintroduces activity to the area opening up and connecting surrounding streets and underused areas of existing open space adjacent to the site.”