This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/may/09/barratt-developments-upbeat-help-to-buy

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Barratt upbeat on profits as housing market 'best in five years' Barratt upbeat on profits as housing market 'best in five years'
(about 2 hours later)
British housebuilder Barratt Developments said market conditions were the best it had seen for five years and that it expects to post a significant improvement in annual profits.British housebuilder Barratt Developments said market conditions were the best it had seen for five years and that it expects to post a significant improvement in annual profits.
The company, Britain's largest housebuilder by market value, on Thursday said net private reservations per week per active site rose 18% compared with the prior year after the government announced plans in the budget to help struggling house buyers The company, Britain's largest housebuilder by market value, on Thursday said net private reservations per week per active site rose 18% compared with a year earlier after the government announced plans in the budget to help struggling house buyers.
This contributed to an overall 9.7% increase in net private reservations from 1 January to 5 May, it said. Chancellor George Osborne has pledged to provide and guarantee billions of pounds in loans to home buyers in a bid to boost home ownership and construction.This contributed to an overall 9.7% increase in net private reservations from 1 January to 5 May, it said. Chancellor George Osborne has pledged to provide and guarantee billions of pounds in loans to home buyers in a bid to boost home ownership and construction.
"Help to Buy has seen a strong start and we are investing in land and bringing it through planning to meet increasing consumer demand," chief executive Mark Clare said."Help to Buy has seen a strong start and we are investing in land and bringing it through planning to meet increasing consumer demand," chief executive Mark Clare said.
Many British homebuyers have found it tough to stump up the large deposits needed to buy homes and the financial crisis has made banks reluctant to hand out mortgages. Barratt said the present backdrop, in terms of consumer demand and mortgage supply, was the most positive it had seen for five years.Many British homebuyers have found it tough to stump up the large deposits needed to buy homes and the financial crisis has made banks reluctant to hand out mortgages. Barratt said the present backdrop, in terms of consumer demand and mortgage supply, was the most positive it had seen for five years.
The company said its private forward sales, excluding joint ventures, at 5 May were 28.5% up on the same point last year at £1.01bn and it reduced net debt guidance to £100m for the end of June.The company said its private forward sales, excluding joint ventures, at 5 May were 28.5% up on the same point last year at £1.01bn and it reduced net debt guidance to £100m for the end of June.