Barratt Homes today called 250 workers to its West Midlands office to announce job losses and a freeze on new projects.

It is believed around 50 staff in the region will lose their jobs as the property market plunges further into crisis.

Workers attending the meeting in Halesowen today were placed on 30 days’ notice as part of the consultation process before jobs are cut.

Barratt’s spokesman Dan Bridgett said similar meetings will be taking place at other regional offices, but he could not give a figure for how many jobs might be axed nationwide. The firm employs around 6,500 people in total.

Mr Bridgett denied suggestions that Barratt was freezing work on its existing building sites in the region.

Some sub-contractors have reported building supplies being returned and houses being left partly-completed as the company struggles to sell its existing housing stock.

Mr Bridgett said the company was being “very selective” about starting new projects, but added: “We are cracking on with the housing schemes we have already started. There is no policy of slowing down on existing sites.”

Mr Bridgett also denied suggestions the company’s West Midlands office at Halesowen would close.

Meanwhile Taylor Wimpey, the country’s biggest housebuilder, is axing 900 staff nationwide and closing a dozen of its regional offices. The company, which has offices in Wolverhampton and Cannock, would not say today where the axe will fall.

Last month Persimmon Homes became the third housebuilder in Wolverhampton to cut jobs. McInerney Homes West Midlands and Bryant North Midlands, both based on Pendeford Business Park, are also shedding staff.