In the six months to 30 June 2013, Persimmon legally completed 5,022 new homes, up from 4,712 in the first half of 2012.
With average selling price up 5% to £179,200, total first-half revenues reached £900m, up 12% on last year’s £806.7m.
The company gave credit to the government's Help to Buy scheme for “bringing additional momentum to the traditionally stronger spring sales season”. Persimmon has secured 1,124 Help to Buy reservations since its April launch.
“Whilst our weekly private sale reservation rate for the first half of the year was 12% ahead of last year, our reservation rate as measured from the date of introduction of the Help to Buy scheme was 30% stronger,” the company said.
”We are encouraged by the gradual increase in the number of major mortgage lenders supporting this government initiative and anticipate that all the major lenders will be providing Help to Buy related mortgage products over the coming weeks. This will present a wider choice to customers and will help to support further increases in new home sales.”
Persimmon opened 90 sites during the first half of 2013. At 30 June it was operating from 385 active sites, having sold out at several earlier than expected.
It plans to open a further 85 new sites in the second half of the year and expects the active outlet network to remain stable at or around 385 sites for the rest of the year.
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