Brexit uncertainty fails to dampen performance at Bellway

Ted Ayres
Ted Ayres

Housebuilder Bellway has said it is on track for a record year as strong demand for new homes appears unaffected by uncertainty over the EU referendum outcome.

The FTSE 250 company, which built 7,752 properties in the twelve months to July last year, expects to build at least 10 per cent more homes this financial year despite some signs the British economy has slowed in the run-up to the June 23 vote.

According to The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors this week, buyer demand has plummeted over the past few months. It blamed a combination of referendum uncertainty and a lull after the rush to get into the property market before tax changes in April.



However, Bellway said it was set to increase its average selling price by 10 per cent from last year’s £223,821 in the year to July 31.

Completions are expected to be at least 10 per cent ahead of the 7,752 reported for the 2015 year.

“Notwithstanding the uncertainty surrounding the impending EU referendum, the group has not experienced any noticeable effect on trading, with customer confidence continuing to be strong,” it said.

Ted Ayres, chief executive, added: “The continued positive trading environment, the availability of good quality land opportunities and disciplined investment in an expanding divisional structure… should lead to another record performance.”



Given the positive conditions, Bellway has stepped up its land purchasing, making deals to purchase 8,600 plots since August 1 — a 45 per cent increase on a year earlier. On top of that, it has outline agreements in place to buy another 6,200 plots and is planning to open a new operating division, its 19th, in the north of England.


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