Strong start for Yorkshire housebuilder
Housebuilder Persimmon said it has had a strong start to the year with sales of its homes up 17% on last year.
The York-based group said in the first quarter of 2025, its net private sales rate per outlet per week, excluding bulk sales, was up 3% to 0.65.
The group added that its private forward sales have increased by 17% to £1.68bn with a private average selling price of c.£293,300, up 4% on last year.
It added that customer interest remains strong across the country and its marketing campaigns are generating healthy traffic to its sites and online.
Persimmon has launched a ‘new build boost’ in March, which allows customers to purchase a new home with a 15% interest-free equity loan. Although the scheme is in its early stages, the company said it has had good interest, and it is already assisting customers in addressing affordability challenges.
Dean Finch, group chief executive, said: “Persimmon has started the year well, building on our strong performance in 2024 with an improved private sales rate, an increase in average selling prices and further growth in our network of outlets. As a result, our private forward sales are up 17% on the prior year. We have continued our investment in new land and achieved further planning success in the period.
“We have seen no immediate impact on the business or on customer confidence from the recent geopolitical uncertainty. Consequently, at this stage we remain on track to deliver further growth in completions to between 11,000 and 11,500 for the full year, providing the UK housing market remains stable.”
