The firm will now share a work programme over the next year years to deliver up to 500 new homes across the south of England each year for the not-for-dividend group.

The contract forms part of Aster’s wider plans to invest £1.5bn in new homes between now and 2024, including the delivery of a record 1,100 properties during 2017/18.

Aster’s schemes comprise a mix of open-market sale, shared ownership, affordable and social-rented housing. It reinvests profit into building more housing schemes.

Tony Clifford, assistant development director – construction and technical at Aster Group, said: “We are increasing the number of homes we build every year and our footprint continues to expand across the south of England.

“We have recognised that by working closely with the right number of contractors who share our vision we can build strong long-term partnerships that will support Aster in delivering more land-led opportunities over the coming years.

“These partnerships complement the delivery of our section 106 developments and support our vision that everyone deserves a home.”

Last month, Aster announced a reshaping of its senior development team as part of its ambitious house building programme. The new team includes director of development and sales Jane Gallifent, who joined from Clarion Housing Group.

Aster’s current land-led schemes include 38 homes at a site in Hambleton Avenue in Devizes, Wiltshire and 36 homes to be built in Tadley, near Basingstoke.

The group is the preferred bidder to build 109 properties in the Bargates area of Christchurch, Dorset, and recently completed the 94-home Finn Square development in Weymouth, Dorset.