Robertson Construction has landed the biggest share of the programme, with a contract allocation worth up to £120m.

Caddick Construction has secured a £66m allocation while Durham-based Esh Construction has been awarded up to £22m.

The open framework will be used to appoint principal contractors to build extra care facilities and associated housing, including specialist schemes of around 124 beds.

Five firms initially submitted bids, with three progressing to the final assessment and all three securing places.

Contracts are due to start later this month and initially run for five years to September 2031, with the option of two further one-year extensions.

Karbon is expanding its extra care programme across the North East, providing supported apartments aimed at allowing residents with additional care needs to live independently.

Its current pipeline includes 124-apartment schemes in South Shields and Morpeth and a 95-home development at Hebburn.

Robertson is already delivering Karbon’s 124-apartment South Shields scheme and the Hebburn development.

Karbon said its wider Homes England strategic partnership is supporting delivery of 2,324 affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028, with around 10% earmarked for people requiring additional support.