news Positive start to year for Persimmon Scotland
Persimmon says it has made a positive start to 2013 in Scotland, with visitors to its developments up by 5% compared to last year. Persimmon Homes Scotland regional chairman John Cassie said: “We’re currently seeing incoming enquiries to our Persimmon Homes and sister- brand, Charles Church websites increase by 30% compared to last year. The government backed MI New Home schemes is continuing to support new home buyers in our region and we have been
pleasantly surprised with the increasing amount of enquiries for this incentive. At the moment at least 10% of our sales are being achieved through this vehicle as the low deposit is proving attractive to both second time purchasers and first-time buyers alike. We expect this incentive to become even more popular as public awareness increases.” “Our success in the region leads to more employment locally, an increase in much needed homes for people living in the community as well
as providing our shareholders with a return on their investment. My team is committed to continuing to deliver on all three levels,” added Cassie. Persimmon has launched 11 Scottish developments in 2013, including schemes at Bathgate, Dalkeith, Bishopton and Newton Mearns. A further 12 sites, including developments in Edinburgh, Larbert, Dumfries and Port Glasgow, will be launched before the end of the year.
RIBA calls for new home space and light standards
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has called on the government to implement space and light standards for new homes, in the light of a report it has commissioned. The research, carried out by Ipsos MORI, revealed “strong public support for the introduction of minimum space standards for new build homes across England”. It was published as the government prepares to make an announcement on its Review of Housing Standards in England within the coming weeks, which “could result in current housing standards being reduced or abolished”. The research found that 80% of respondents said they would be more likely to choose a new home that met minimum space standards. RIBA President Angela Brady said: “The country is in the grip of the worst housing crisis in decades and there is an urgent need to provide more affordable, quality homes. In its rush to build the government must avoid the temptation to reduce current standards and give the go-ahead for builders to produce another generation of poor quality homes, without adequate space and natural light. “Quality cannot be sacrificed by the urgent need to provide more homes. To do so would be a false economy, leaving us with homes people don’t want to live in and don’t want to have in their neighbourhood. The government wants to build an ‘aspiration nation’, so let’s make that possible by building homes that not only suit our most basic lifestyle needs, but are flexible and fit for the future,” she added.
Record-breaking year for Mount Anvil
Central London property developer Mount Anvil announced its 2012 annual results last month, which chronicle a record-breaking year
for the company. Turnover was £108m, up from £90.5m in 2011. Profit before taxation was £10.1m, an increase from £2m the year prior. £120m of new bank facilities were also secured during 2012, as well as £44.5m of joint venture and mezzanine funding. A total of 480 private homes were delivered in 2012, an increase from 165 in the previous year. This included units from The Loxfords, the 143- unit redevelopment of the former Action for Children headquarters in Highbury (N5), as well as the remaining units within the award-winning Central Square scheme and those at the Seward Street development, both in Clerkenwell. At the close of 2012, the number of private homes under development rose to 996, making Mount Anvil one of the top five residential property developers in London. Killian Hurley, executive chairman of Mount Anvil, said:
“2012 was another outstanding year for Mount Anvil, reaching new heights in terms of both profitability and our development pipeline. This gives us clear profit visibility over the next three to four years, and provides an excellent platform for continuing on the path of controlled profitable growth. We are seeing increased opportunity for the business within our focus area of Central London, with the number and quality of land buying opportunities under consideration at an unprecedented level.”
SIGNIFICANT GROWTH FOR CROUDACE
Croudace Homes Group has reported strong figures for the year to 31 December 2012. Turnover was up 11% to £107.9m with profit up 15% to £8.1m. Group chief executive, Andy Yallop, said: “Despite the fragile state of the UK economy, 2012 was another good year for the Croudace Homes Group, with strong growth in both turnover and profits. It is particularly pleasing that the company achieved the five star rating for quality in the recent HBF/NHBC National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. 97% of Croudace Homes’ customers would recommend the company to a friend.”
“The major constraint on future activities for the group is the availability of mortgages for its customers. The government’s Funding for Lending Scheme has assisted in reducing mortgage interest rates, and the recently announced Help to Buy initiative should further assist the market,” he added. The first quarter of 2013 has seen reservation rates increase, with the total in the quarter 30% ahead of 2012.
14| May 2013 showhouse
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124