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Barratt bookings rise as UK housebuying stays strong

Barratt, the UK's biggest housebuilder, said it had not experienced any significant disruption from supply chain issues
Barratt, the UK's biggest housebuilder, said it had not experienced any significant disruption from supply chain issues

Barratt Developments said today that forward sales for the past three months had risen above pre-pandemic levels, driven by sustained housebuying.

This has prompted the company to stick to its home-completion forecasts for the current year.

Britain's biggest housebuilder said it had not experienced any significant disruption to constructions, despite the UK struggling with supply chain and labour issues stemming from Brexit and the pandemic.

"We continue to work closely with our suppliers and sub-contractors and have not experienced any significant disruption to our build programme as a result of the challenging supply chain environment," chief executive David Thomas said.

Jefferies analysts called the update "reassuring" as Barratt said total forward sales as at October 10 totalled 15,393 homes. That came above 15,135 for the same time last year and 12,963 homes as at October 13, 2019.

The UK housing market turned red hot after the Covid-19 pandemic last year, aided by strong demand for larger homes amid a shift to remote working and a temporary tax break for buyers.

Home prices rose by the most in almost 15 years in September, mortgage lender Halifax said last week.