Gleeson sales up by half

Housebuilder Gleeson has seem sales rise by almost half over since July and private completions rise by over a quarter since the same time last year, it said in an interim statement to the City this morning.

The firm’s housebuilding business, based mainly in the North of England, also saw a rise in visitors to sites.

The statement said: “Buyer interest has continued to improve. Compared to the same period last year, visitors to site are up by over 15%, private completions are up 26% and overall unit sales are up 47%. In addition, selling prices on most sites have improved ahead of management’s expectations.”

It also said that it had bought five sites in the north of England, due to low land prices, and expected to be selling from them before the end of the year.

It also attacked the “policy vacumn” left in the wake of an anticipated shake-up in the country’s planning system by the coaltion government.

“The policy vacuum created by the Coalition Government’s failure to clarify the details of its proposed changes to the planning system is currently making it more difficult to obtain commercially viable residential planning consents.”

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