Taylor Wimpey posts half-year profit

HOUSEBUILDER Taylor Wimpey swung back into profit today after its focus on margins over sales growth helped to boost half-year results.

The group recorded pre-tax profits of 19.6m for the six months to June 30, against losses of 672.7m in 2009 when it was forced to write down the value of work in progress by more than 500m.

Taylor Wimpey said its focus on maximising margins rather than looking to accelerate volume growth was the right strategy in an environment where it faced possible changes to planning policy and wider economic uncertainty.

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It added that the UK housing market had been "relatively robust", despite uncertainties stemming from the general election.

Revenues for the division increased 11.1% to 827.1m after it completed a total of 4,804 homes in the first half, a slight increase on a year earlier. The average selling price rose by 9.8 per cent to 168,000, with changes in the type of properties sold helping to improve the figure.

It opened 46 new outlets during the half year, although the average number of sites reduced to 295 from 322 in the second half of 2009.

"Our priority continues to be maximising the value achieved from each home completion rather than looking to grow volumes ahead of underlying improvements in market conditions," the company said.

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