<p>Barratt has had a strong start to 2012 with a big rise in private sales as the firm opens new sites.</p> <p>Barratt group chief executive said: "Over the last six months we have continued to improve the performance of the business, despite the wider economic uncertainty. We have seen a strong start to 2012 and over the first seven weeks private reservations are running 21.8% ahead of this time last year."</p> <p>Private forward sales as at February 19 were up 24.3% to £693.2 million compared to last year.</p> <p>Reporting the half year to end of December 2011, Baratt has seen a 40.5% increase in operating profits to £61.1 million with margin increasing to 6.4% (5% in 2010). The firm turned last year's pre-tax loss for the period of £4.6 million to a £21.6 million profit.</p>