Privately owned housebuilder Weston Homes' profit jumped 45% for the year to 31 July.
The Hertfordshire firm's profit increased from 拢4.9m last year to 拢7.1m, and turnover jumped from 拢34.2 to reach a record 拢46.6m.

Chairman and managing director Bob Weston said the group's record performance had come in spite of planning delays. Weston said there had been little sign of improvement in planning, despite government promises to speed up the process.

"When consents are achieved they are accompanied with an increasing number of conditions. This can result in further delays," he said. Weston added that these delays were a major cause of the rapid increase in house prices, although strong demand was also a factor.

Planning consent comes with an increasing number of conditions

Bob Weston, chairman, Weston Homes