YORK-headquartered housebuilder Persimmon Homes has reported an “excellent” first half to 2017 during which time revenues grew to £1.66 billion.

The Fulford-based firm said the market took the snap UK General Election “in its stride”, and that consumer confidence remains “resilient”.

In a trade update, covering the year from January 1 to June 30, Persimmon reported a 12 per cent rise in revenues from the same period in 2016, off the back of an eight per cent increase in legal completions to 7,749 new homes, and a 3.5 per cent rise in average selling price £213,000.

The company said: “The Group’s trading performance in the first half of the year has been excellent.

“The 556 increase in new homes sold demonstrates the Group’s drive to meet market demand in all its regional markets across the UK.

“We expect the Group’s strong trading through the first half of the year, including the contribution from 95 new sales outlets opened in the period, will lead to further good progress in our operating margin.”

Persimmon said it expects its operating margin in the first half of 2017 to “comfortably exceed” the 25.7 per cent delivered in the second half of last year.

Looking ahead the housebuilder reported “strong momentum” moving into the second half of the year, with total forward sales value at the end of June standing at £1.6 billion, 18 per cent higher than last year.

With the number of active sites standing at 375, sales in the second half of 2017 will be supported by opening a further 100 new sales outlets, despite what the group described as “the frustration of continued delays to site starts due to planning inefficiencies”.

Throughout the first half of the year the Group remained active in the land market with 47 new land deals, which will accommodate around. 9,300 new homes. Land spend for the period totalled £370 million, compared to £305 million for the first half of 2016.

In it’s update to the London Stock Exchange, ahead of released its half year results in August, Persimmon said: “Successful execution of the long term strategy launched in 2012 has placed the Group in a very strong financial position, with an excellent asset platform designed to position Persimmon for success through the housing cycle.

“We remain fully committed to building the new homes needed by communities right across the UK. Our focus on building traditional family housing in attractive locations will help meet unfulfilled demand.”