Persimmon’s latest trading update has said that the housebuilder remains on track to deliver between 11,000 and 11,500 homes in 2025.
It stated that the firm had also seen a small increase in its private sales rate and a higher number of outlets in the year so far.
The developer said that, from the start of the year to 27 April, its net private sales per outlet per week, not including bulk sales, had risen to 0.65, an increase of 3% year-on-year. The figure including bulk sales grew to 0.74, a 1% rise on the same period last year.
Persimmon also saw the value of its private forward sales increase to £1.68billion year-on-year, an improvement of 17%. The average private selling price for its houses also rose by 4%, now standing at £293,300.
So far this year, the housebuilder has opened 27 new outlets and at the end of the reporting period, was operating from 275, representing a 5% increase on the previous year. Persimmon says that it is on course to open around 100 outlets during this year as it works towards its goal of operating from a minimum of 300 outlets.
Persimmon also recorded a significant increase in regards to planning, securing 2,781 plots with detailed or reserved matters approval in the first quarter of the year compared to 1,457 in 2024.
The trading update said that the firm had experienced positive conditions across the first nine weeks of 2024 and that this positivity had continued, saying that consumer interest had remained “strong”.
It also said that the housebuilder expects the government’s recent planning reforms would “provide further momentum to the business in the coming years”.
Persimmon says that they remain on course to achieve between 11,000 and 11,500 completions over the full year, surpassing 2024’s total of 10,664 homes.
However, the housebuilder did note that ongoing economic uncertainties could have a negative impact on consumer spending and mortgage rates but suggested that it expects the indirect impact of the recently imposed US tariffs to be limited on the developer.
Dean Finch, group CEO of Persimmon, said: “Persimmon has started the year well, building on our strong performance in 2024 with an improved private sales rate, an increase in average selling prices and further growth in our network of outlets. As a result, our private forward sales are up 17% on the prior year. We have continued our investment in new land and achieved further planning success in the period.”
“We have seen no immediate impact on the business or on customer confidence from the recent geopolitical uncertainty. Consequently, at this stage we remain on track to deliver further growth in completions to between 11,000 and 11,500 for the full year, providing the UK housing market remains stable.”
