Lowestoft-based housebuilders Badger Building has marked the sale of its 1,000th home and is looking ahead to new developments in Norfolk as boss Stephen George said the firm was cautiously optimistic about the economic outlook.

The independently-owned homebuilder, established in 1989 and which has a turnover of about �10m, sold the semi-detached property at its Alston's Meadow development in Long Road, Framingham Earl, near Norwich. Badger is also set to start work on two new developments at Winterton-on-Sea, near Great Yarmouth, and Lingwood, near Norwich.

Mr George, managing director and founder of Badger Building, handed over the keys of the property as well as champagne and flowers to new owners Amy and Steve Freeman, who both work at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and their 20-month-old daughter Rosie.

He said: 'This is a big landmark. For many years now we have tried very hard to design and build high-quality houses in Norfolk and Suffolk which reflect and contribute to the local vernacular and heritage.'

He added: 'We are cautiously optimistic. We are in a niche market so have not been affected as much by the recession, although we did wind ourselves back a bit. But we have been investing in new land and are well ahead on last year and have got 13 active sites at the moment.'