<p><span>Berkeley Group remains set to deliver a similar profit to last year but its reservation values are due to fall around 20%, with the housebuilder deciding to delay opening new sites until after the lockdown lifts.</span></p><p><span>In 2020, the housebuilder’s profit stood at £504 million. Issuing a trading update for the period from November 1 2020 to February 28 2021, Berkeley said its sales reservations had been robust “where we have had availability of stock”.</span></p><p></p><p><span>But, despite “consistently strong” enquiry levels, it had “re-profiled the launch of new developments and phases into the market until the economy opens up post-lockdown.</span></p><p></p><p><span>“As a consequence, we anticipate the value of reservations for the current financial year to be around 20% lower than last year.”</span></p><p></p><p><span>Forward sales for Berkeley’s year end are anticipated to be “above” £1.7 billion. The business said this represented “a very strong position from which to enter the next financial year”.</span></p><p></p><p><span>Its statement read: “The current operating environment remains volatile with the period under review including both the second and third national lockdowns and the ending of the Brexit transition period. </span></p><p><span>"Nevertheless, Berkeley has continued to invest in its large, complex, long-term regeneration sites. Onsite labour numbers remain above pre-pandemic levels and, while we …