A new housebuilder is looking to break into the Scottish new homes market, it has emerged.

In news likely to be welcomed by purchasers of new homes, fresh competition is about the enter the Scottish market in the shape of David Barlow Homes.

The Tyneside-based firm, which built 12 houses last year, hopes to increase sales to £20 million in the year ahead, the Journal reports.

As a result of the "regressive" planning restrictions in the north-east of England, managing director David Barlow is looking to spread its operations to take in the Scottish market.

He commented: "In Scotland, the population is declining, but is releasing more land for housing and has a better chance of arresting that decline in the economy."

He added that Scotland has an "appetite for housing" which is absent from the company's home turf.

Recently the British Property Federation suggested that the house building industry was fully behind government regeneration plans.