Developer on track despite tough trading environment
Berkeley Group has said it is on track to deliver around 拢900m in pre-tax profits this year despite tough trading conditions in its core markets of London and the South-East.
The developer, which is chaired by Tony Pidgley, said it expected to generate forward sales in excess of 拢2bn by the close of its financial year at the end of April and pre-tax profits of 拢1.5bn over the next two years, with 60% weighted towards the current financial year.
In a trading update Berkeley, which last year posted annual turnover of 拢2.7bn and a pre-tax profit of 拢812.4m, said factors including high transaction costs, the length of time and the complexity of getting on site following planning approval and what it called 鈥減revailing economic uncertainty鈥� meant it was unable to increase production 鈥渂eyond business plan levels鈥�.
The firm said the fundamentals of the market in London and the South-East remained 鈥渃ompelling鈥� but the impact of the trading environment on volumes 鈥渄o not support the step-up in production levels that these markets so badly need鈥�.
The comments come as the government looks into whether housebuilders can increase the number of homes they build without sending prices down.
Cenkos analyst Kevin Cammack said: 鈥淔ans of Pidgley will admire the group鈥檚 reluctance to be bullied into a different strategy to suit a political agenda.鈥�
It said it was still on track to deliver at least 拢3.3bn of pre-tax profits for the five-year period from 1 May 2016 to 30 April 2021.
Last December Berkeley revealed it had submitted a planning application to build a modular construction factory in Ebbsfleet, Kent.
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