The UK鈥檚 third largest housebuilder today reported pre-tax profit of 拢457.4m for the six months to 30 June 2017

Strong consumer demand and mortgage availability boosted Persimmon鈥檚 turnover and profitability in the first six months of the year.

The UK鈥檚 today reported revenues of 拢1.66bn for the six months to 30 June 2017, up 12%, while pre-tax profit rose by nearly a third to 拢457.4m.

The group said its average selling price had risen by 4% to 拢213,262, and its underlying operating margin gained by nearly four percentage points to reach 27.6%.

Persimmon also reported forward sales of 拢2bn, up 15%. Nearly half (46%) of its 98,712 plots had received planning permission, while it maintained an additional 16,340 acres of strategic land.

Nicholas Wrigley, the group鈥檚 chairman said the housing market across its regions remained confident, while consumer sentiment was 鈥渞esilient鈥�.

Against a background of rising inflation, what he called 鈥渉ealthy employment levels and a competitive but disciplined mortgage market鈥� were helping to boost prospects.

鈥淐ustomers are finding good levels of support from mortgage lenders who have approved around 195,000 loans during the second quarter of 2017, a very similar level compared with the same period last year, despite the heightened uncertainties associated with the result of the recent UK general election,鈥� he added.

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