Barratt has said that it expects to see an improvement in its full year pre tax profits, beating City forecasts and making 2005 another record year. In a trading update the housebuilder said it expected to “announce further growth in legal completions and an improvement in continuing pre-tax profit.” Barratt also said that it had increased completions by 2% to 7,003 homes at an average price of £165,000. The statement added: “Forward sales at 31 December 2005 remained very healthy, at circa £700m (2004:£803m). Together with completions to date this secures approximately 75% of our full year objective. Whilst below last year’s record levels, encouragingly these remain above our historic norms.” Meanwhile David Pretty, chief executive, has criticised Gordon Brown’s proposed development land tax. Speaking to The Times Pretty said: “I don’t want to say that a tax can’t work, but the auguries are not good.” He added that he would have preferred a tariff system, under which developers would be given a fixed menu of options to pay for community improvements.