The firm said it secured nearly 190 sales in January, up 15 per cent on a year ago, with some of its Scottish sites “selling at twenty per cent above the UK average of 0.58 sales per week per site”.

Barratt attributed the success in part to a surge in activity from buyers seeking to buy in advance of changes to property taxes in April.

It also cited high buyer confidence, particularly in the mid-value housing market.

Barratt Scotland regional director Douglas McLeod said: “January is traditionally a slow month for the economy, and this has certainly been the case for new home sales in previous years.

“We believe that a combination of factors, including high demand for quality well-priced new-build homes, changes to stamp duty, buyer confidence, Help to Buy and favourable lending conditions, have all conspired to create a very favourable climate for home buying.”

Barratt Homes has already announced plans to open up to 13 new sites this year across Scotland, creating almost 2,100 new homes.

They include: Newcraighall Village, Newcraighall; Duddingston Gardens, Edinburgh; Alnwickhill, Edinburgh; Kings Way, Renfrew; Highland Gate, Stirling; Silver Bell, Hamilton; Parklands, Coatbridge; Barclay Grange, Newmachar; Harlaw Gait, Inverurie; Ocean, Aberdeen; Muggiemoss Road, Aberdeen; and Mugiemoss Village, Aberdeen.