Big rise in sales for housebuilder marred by government 鈥檖olicy vacumn鈥 over planning system

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鈥檚 housebuilding business, based mainly in the North of England, also saw a rise in visitors to sites.

The statement said: 鈥淏uyer 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鈥檚 expectations.鈥

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 鈥減olicy vacumn鈥 left in the wake of an anticipated shake-up in the country鈥檚 planning system by the coaltion government.

鈥淭he policy vacuum created by the Coalition Government鈥檚 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.鈥