<p>Barratt Developments has delivered an “excellent” first half performance, it said today, with completions, revenue and profit up on HY 2019.</p> <p><span>During the six months to December 31 2020, the volume housebuilder’s total completions rose 9.2% to 9,077 homes against the equivalent period the previous year.</span></p> <p><span>Its revenue increased 10.1% to £2,494.7 million, with pre-tax profit up modestly by 1.7% to £430.2 million. Barratt said its adjusted operating margin rose from 19.4% in 2019 to 20.3%.</span></p> <p><span>The firm’s private average selling price lifted from 2019’s £312,000 to £319,500. Its overall sales rate during the first half was 11.6% ahead of the previous year at 0.77 net private reservations per active outlet per week.</span></p> <p><span>The rate “moderated” during the period following an “exceptionally strong” first quarter reflecting underlying demand and pent up demand following the first lockdown, with a more normalised rate in the second quarter.</span></p> <p><span>During the six months, it operated from an average of 342 active outlets, down 8.1% due to delays to site starts from the first lockdown.</span></p> <p><span>For January, net private reservations per active outlet per average week were </span><span>7.2%</span><span> down on the equivalent period in 2020 at </span><span>0.77</span><span>. But Barratt said this was still </span><span>4.1% ahead …