Thames Valley: Business on target says region’s leading housebuilder Persimmon

The managing director of Persimmon, one of the region’s leading housebuilders says he’s pleased with the performance of the business and believes it’s firmly on track to meet end of year expectations.Ian Menham, managing director of Persimmon Homes Thames Valley, says the autumn selling season has seen visitor rates rise 6% ahead of this time last year and weekly private sales rates rise 4%.

Speaking as Persimmon plc releases its Interim Management Statement which covers the period from 1 July 2012 to 12 November 2012, Menham said: “House buyers in our region have been helped by the cost of mortgage loans reducing slightly as lenders access the Government’s Funding for Lending Scheme and pass the lower funding costs through to our customers.

“The take-up of the Government-backed 5% deposit NewBuy mortgage product has also helped our region, with a steady increase in customers purchasing a home with a NewBuy mortgage.”

Persimmon has been trading since 1972 and the business operates under three main brands, Persimmon Homes, Charles Church and Westbury Partnerships. The business has recently opened Tutors Gate in Stoke Mandeville, Laurel Place in Slough and Queen’s Acre in Bushey and is looking forward to the forthcoming openings of The Paddocks in Enstone, St Andrew’s Gate in Uxbridge, Chilworth Gate in Haddenham and the next phase of Sovereign Fields at Jennett’s Park, Bracknell.

Menham added: “A critical part of our strategy is the continued investment in new land to support the growth of Persimmon within the region in the future.

“The UK housing market continues to be challenging and mortgage availability remains the key constraint, however we remain confident of the future successful growth of Persimmon in the region.”

Resources: Persimmon website