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Strong housebuilding activity has boosted drainage manufacturer Polypipe鈥檚 trading performance in the past six months.

In a week when the Construction Products Association (CPA) warned that growth in the industry would slow to just 0.7% next year, Polypipe said it had seen 鈥渞obust demand鈥� from UK housebuilders in the first half of 2017.

The CPA said that growth next year would be heavily dependent on private housebuilding, although the sector .

Polypipe reported revenues from its residential pipework systems operation of 拢115m, up 9%, all of which was derived from the UK and Irish markets, accounting for 47% of total revenue for the six months to 30 June 2017.

The residential division posted underlying operating profits of 拢22.9m in the first half, up 6.5% year-on-year.

鈥淒emand has remained robust from the national housebuilders throughout the first half, with particularly strong demand for our underground products as they continue to open new sites.

鈥淎s the housebuilders move through different build phases on site, demand is beginning to pick up in our above ground product ranges,鈥� the firm added.

Polypipe said the UK repairs maintenance and improvement market was 鈥渟tatic鈥�, with housing transactions still muted and consumer confidence 鈥渋mpacted by post-election uncertainty and negative real wage growth鈥�, while delays in some road projects had impacted its commercial and infrastructure operation.

The firm鈥檚 comments about the political landscape were in contrast to a more positive take on things from Bellway, which today said that customers鈥� appetite to purchase a new home .