Housebuilder hits six-year high as prices shoot up eight per cent

Taylor Wimpey said it built more homes in 2015 than at any point during the last six years

The firm built 13,341 homes last year at an average selling price of £230,000, up eight per cent.

Its Yorkshire operations put in a strong performance and finance director Ryan Mangold said the group is keen to invest in the region.

The average selling price in Yorkshire rose from £190,000 to £212,000.

“Prices increased year on year, partly due to the quality of our locations,” said Mr Man- gold.

The group has 53 sites in Yorkshire and sold 2,100 homes in the county, up from 1,900 the year before.

The firm has amassed a record order book, leaping 27 per cent year-on-year to £1.8bn, representing 7,484 homes.

Taylor Wimpey, in common with other housebuilders, is enjoying a recovery in the housing market, supported by rising incomes, low unemployment and low interest rates.

Chief executive Pete Redfern said: “We have delivered a strong trading performance in 2015, in a positive housing market, building more homes than at any point in the last six years and delivering a record operating profit margin of over 20 per cent.”

The Government has said it wants the industry to build one million new homes by 2020. This compares with 460,000 homes that were built between 2011 and 2014.