A HALESOWEN housebuilder has been praised for contributing over £194.2 million to the UK economy.

Barratt Homes has built 1356 homes supported 3,400 jobs directly and through its contractors and suppliers.

A new report, compiled by planning consultants Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, calculated the economic affect the housebuilder had on the economy in the last financial year.

Bernard Rooney, Barratt Developments central regional managing director, is delighted how the business is performing.

He said: “As one of the region’s leading housebuilders, we are very aware of the important role we play in helping to boost the local economy.

“We are 100 per cent committed to a strategy that includes leaving a positive and lasting legacy in the communities in which we build homes, be that through job creation, bolstering surrounding businesses or enhancing and protecting the local environment."

He said: "We are proud to be a major force in the growth and prosperity of our region, and look forward to continuing our work in 2016.”

The Whitehall Road company has also employed 35 new graduates, trainees and apprentices, supported 461 subcontractor companies and 693 supplier companies.

Barratt also donated £50,420 to charitable causes and planted or retained 43,000 trees or shrubs on its developments.

The company was part of the controversial Coombes Road housing development which saw environmental campaigners lose out after fighting it for years.

All 59 properties at the Barratt Homes built The Pavilions, Coombs Road, were sold in March, two years after the first went on sale.

Environmentalists waged an unsuccessful campaign to stop developers St Modwen getting permission to build its development, permission was granted in 2011.