黑洞社区

Bovis Homes is gearing up to deliver up to 4,000 homes this year, according to the housebuilder鈥檚 chief executive David Ritchie.

Speaking to 黑洞社区 after Bovis posted a strong trading update, Ritchie said the firm was expecting to deliver around 鈥�8-10%鈥� more homes in 2015, up from 3,635 completions last year.

Ritchie said he expects housing market trading this year to be 鈥渟imilar to the whole of 2014鈥�, despite some expected 鈥渄isruption [鈥�] around April and May鈥� in the run up to the general election.

Ritchie said he believes election-related disruption will be minimal, as 鈥渂oosting housing supply is going to be a key part of both main parties鈥� manifestos鈥�.

Bovis will ask the parties to pursue policies that increase land supply, support the Help to Buy scheme and are proactive in working with developers, Ritchie said.

Commenting on the government鈥檚 changes to stamp duty in last month鈥檚 Autumn statement, he said: 鈥淚t is really helpful, but it won鈥檛 fundamentally change the volumes of the sector. It underpins current activity levels.鈥�

In its statement Bovis said it is set to announce a 鈥渟ignificant increase鈥� in pre-tax profit in full-year results for the 2014 calendar year published next month.

The housebuilder said its operating margin last year increased to 17%, up from 14.9%.

The firm also said achieved a 29% increase in legal completions to 3,635 homes last year, up from 2,813 in 2013, while Bovis posted an 11% increase in the firm鈥檚 average sales price to 拢216,600, up from 拢195,100

During the year the firm added 7,300 plots to its consented land bank across 42 sites, with the land bank growing to around 18,000 consented plots at year end.

Bovis will publish its full-year results on 23 February.